American Airlines’ third-quarter fuel bill climbed 67.5% to $4.64 billion, and the company expects fuel to add about $2.8 billion to its fourth-quarter costs versus a year earlier.
The carrier’s Oct. 22 earnings release reported revenue of $16.3 billion for the quarter, up 19.3% year over year. American said that growth rate was its highest in company history apart from the years following the pandemic. Fuel expense increased 67.5% to $4.64 billion, and the airline paid an average of $3.85 a gallon.
American reported a third-quarter net loss of $269 million, or 41 cents per diluted share, under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). After excluding $87 million in after-tax net special items, American reported an adjusted net loss of $182 million, or 28 cents per diluted share.
For 2026, the airline forecast an adjusted loss of $1.00 to $1.60 per diluted share. It expects a fourth-quarter adjusted loss of $0.50 to $1.10 per diluted share, alongside revenue growth of 19.5% to 22.5% from a year earlier.
American’s fourth-quarter estimate assumes fuel will cost about $4.70 a gallon, based on the Oct. 19 forward curve. American forecasts a $2.8 billion year-over-year increase in fourth-quarter fuel expense, while projecting revenue growth of 19.5% to 22.5%.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said fuel prices affected the results and that the company remained focused on “restoring profitability.” American also expects network growth to slow in 2027 from this year’s pace, citing elevated fuel prices. EconoTimes previously covered the carrier’s 2026 adjusted-loss outlook.
