Solid Summer of Travel Lifts Fortunes for American Airlines

Image: American Airlines Boeing 777-200ER. (photo via santirf/iStock Editorial / Getty Images Plus)
Image: American Airlines Boeing 777-200ER. (photo via santirf/iStock Editorial / Getty Images Plus)
Rich Thomaselli
by Rich Thomaselli
Last updated: 10:30 AM ET, Wed October 12, 2022

Despite the long lines, the delayed luggage, the overwhelming congestion, and the chaos of summer air travel, the bottom line remains that flyers returned in droves and flexed their pent-up demand.

So much so that American Airlines is raising its revenue forecast for the third quarter.

The airline said Tuesday that sales will be better than expected after assessing the July, August and September earnings quarter, according to CNBC.

That's good news for the company, of course, after two devastating years following the pandemic. American will officially report its Q3 earnings on Thursday, October 20. But as CNBC pointed out, a portion of that optimism to raise revenue projections came from higher airfares. Higher airfares came from higher fuel prices and other expenses that the carrier needed to offset.

CNBC reported that revenue is expected to be up 13 percent from the third quarter of 2019, the year that travel entities use to mark their comparisons of pre-pandemic vs. post-pandemic.

Though revenue will be up, the airline did say it flew almost 10 percent less flights than it did in 2019.


For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.

Topics From This Article to Explore

More From TravelPulse

Rich Thomaselli

Rich Thomaselli

Associate Writer

Editor Associate Writer true 9281 14744 Rich Thomaselli has written for TravelPulse since 2014 and has been a professional journalist for nearly 40 years. His work has appeared in USA Today, the New York Times and New York Yankees publications. He is an 11-time writ

Grow Your Travel Business With Certified Courses

Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Majestic Resorts Specialist ProgramDiscover all-inclusive luxury at Majestic Resorts in paradise.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Los Cabos Specialist ProgramSell the magic of Los Cabos: luxury, adventure, and endless sunshine.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Allianz Specialist ProgramProtect every journey with Allianz Partners Travel Insurance.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Majestic Resorts Specialist ProgramDiscover all-inclusive luxury at Majestic Resorts in paradise.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Los Cabos Specialist ProgramSell the magic of Los Cabos: luxury, adventure, and endless sunshine.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Allianz Specialist ProgramProtect every journey with Allianz Partners Travel Insurance.

Don't Miss These Travel Agent Events and Trainings

Watch Now!
Beyond the Ice: Explore the Poles the National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions Way.Friday, September 25, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Join Darrell Wyatt, Regional Sales Director, and Kevin Rattue, Naturalist, to discover what makes...
Upcoming Webinar
Journey to HawaiiWednesday, September 30, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Join us on Wednesday, September 30th, 2026 as we take a virtual journey to the islands of Hawaii....
Upcoming Webinar
The Return of Grand VoyagesThursday, October 1, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
As luxury travelers seek deeper, more immersive ways to explore the world, demand for extended voyages...
Watch Now!
Beyond the Ice: Explore the Poles the National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions Way.Friday, September 25, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Join Darrell Wyatt, Regional Sales Director, and Kevin Rattue, Naturalist, to discover what makes...
Upcoming Webinar
Journey to HawaiiWednesday, September 30, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Join us on Wednesday, September 30th, 2026 as we take a virtual journey to the islands of Hawaii....
Upcoming Webinar
The Return of Grand VoyagesThursday, October 1, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
As luxury travelers seek deeper, more immersive ways to explore the world, demand for extended voyages...