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American Airlines Group Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 23 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 lowered, 6 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 16.3% to $16.7 billion: Total operating revenues were $16.7 billion against $14.4 billion a year earlier. Management described this as the highest quarterly revenue in company history, driven by its four commercial pillars. Source
  • Adjusted EPS $0.15, GAAP EPS $0.11: GAAP net income was $71 million, or $0.11 per diluted share. Adjusted net income, which excludes net special items, was $99 million, or $0.15 per diluted share. Source
  • Higher fares offset half of fuel: Fuel expense rose by over $2.2 billion year over year. Management said higher fares offset nearly half of this fuel increase in the second quarter. Source
  • Operating margin fell to 2.7%: Operating margin was 2.7% against 7.9% a year earlier. Excluding net special items, operating margin was 2.7% against 8.2%. Source
  • Liquidity reached $11.3 billion: Total available liquidity was $11.3 billion at quarter end. The first-quarter release reported $10.8 billion. Source
  • Third-quarter revenue growth 16% to 19%: Management expects third-quarter revenue growth between 16.0% and 19.0%. The prior release gave second-quarter guidance only. Source
  • Full-year EPS guidance lowered on fuel: Full-year adjusted EPS guidance was lowered to between ($0.65) and $0.65, with management citing the recent increase in fuel cost. Source

“American delivered year-over-year revenue growth of more than 16% in the second quarter, exceeding our initial expectations and continuing the momentum we’ve built across the business,”

American’s CEO Robert Isom

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue Sourcethird quarter 2026 vs. third quarter 2025between 16.0% and 19.0%New
Capacity Sourcethird quarter 2026 vs. third quarter 2025+3.0% to +5.0%New
Adjusted EPS Sourcethird quarter 2026($0.70) to ($0.10)New
Adjusted EPS Sourcefull year 2026between ($0.65) and $0.65Lowered from ($0.40) to $1.10
Fuel expense Sourcethird quarter 2026 vs. third quarter 2025up $1.7 billionNew
Fuel price Sourcethird quarter 2026approximately $3.75 per gallonNew
Unit cost Sourcethird quarter 2026 vs. third quarter 2025+2.5% to +4.5%New

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Full-year 2026 adjusted EPS guidance was lowered from ($0.40) to $1.10 to between ($0.65) and $0.65. Source
  • New guidance: Third-quarter 2026 guidance was given for capacity, revenue, unit cost and adjusted EPS; the prior release gave second-quarter guidance only. Source
  • New: The company announced plans in May to install Starlink high-speed Wi-Fi on its fleet beginning in 2027. Source
  • New: The company launched new nonstop routes to Europe in the quarter, including Budapest and Prague from Philadelphia. Source
  • New: American was the first U.S. carrier to return to Venezuela, with service from Miami to Caracas. Source
  • New: Checked bag fee structure and Basic Economy offerings were updated as part of revenue actions. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 16.3% to $16.7 billion: Total operating revenues were $16.7 billion against $14.4 billion a year earlier. Management described this as the highest quarterly revenue in company history, driven by its four commercial pillars. Source
  • Adjusted EPS $0.15, GAAP EPS $0.11: GAAP net income was $71 million, or $0.11 per diluted share. Adjusted net income, which excludes net special items, was $99 million, or $0.15 per diluted share. Source
  • Operating income declined on higher costs: Operating income was $446 million against $1,135 million a year earlier, while total operating expenses rose 22.9% to $16.3 billion. Source

Segments and regions

  • Domestic passenger unit revenue up 10.6%: Domestic passenger revenue was $10,726 million, up 17.1%, with a load factor of 82.3%, down 1.9 points. Management said domestic demand rebounded year over year. Source
  • International unit revenue rose in all entities: Passenger unit revenue rose 8.9% in the Atlantic entity, 15.1% in the Pacific entity and 6.6% in Latin America, each compared with the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Load factor fell as capacity grew: Passenger load factor was 83.2%, down 1.5 points from 84.7%, while capacity grew year over year. International load factor was 85.1%, down 0.6 points. Source

“Those efforts are enabling more efficient capacity production and are reflected in our CASM-ex 2 performance, which was up approximately 3% year over year.”

American’s Chief Financial Officer Devon May

Premium, corporate and loyalty demand

  • Premium unit revenue outpaced Main Cabin: Premium passenger unit revenue rose 13.4% and Main Cabin rose 8.8%, each compared with the second quarter of 2025. Management said premium continued to outperform. Source
  • Managed corporate revenue up 26%: Managed corporate revenue rose 26%, with sequential improvement each month. Management described this as the fifth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth. Source
  • AAdvantage enrollments up over 30%: AAdvantage enrollments grew more than 30% year over year, and co-branded card spend with Citi grew 8% in the second quarter. Source
  • Basic Economy upsell rate rose: The upsell rate from Basic Economy to Main Cabin rose 5 points for tickets sold in the quarter, which management linked to recent fee and product changes. Source

Fuel and operating costs

  • Higher fares offset half of fuel: Fuel expense rose by over $2.2 billion year over year. Management said higher fares offset nearly half of this fuel increase in the second quarter. Source
  • Operating margin fell to 2.7%: Operating margin was 2.7% against 7.9% a year earlier. Excluding net special items, operating margin was 2.7% against 8.2%. Source
  • Pre-tax margin fell to 0.6%: Pre-tax margin was 0.6% against 5.8%. Excluding net special items, pre-tax margin was 0.9% against 6.0%. Source
  • Special items totaled $37 million: Pre-tax net special items were $37 million, of which $30 million were nonoperating. The footnote attributes these principally to equity investment marks and debt charges. Source

“These results demonstrate that our revenue performance and efficiency efforts will continue to drive improved results, and I’m excited about the remainder of 2026 and what’s ahead in 2027 and beyond.”

American’s CEO Robert Isom

Network and hub operations

  • DFW rebanking cut misconnections: Management said DFW rebanking reduced system misconnections by nearly 25% and improved customer satisfaction. DFW unit revenue ran 4 points above the system average. Source
  • On-time arrivals improved 2.8 points: Management said the operation remained resilient through the quarter, with on-time arrival performance improved year over year. Source
  • Investment continues at four hubs: The company continues to strengthen its key hubs at Chicago, Miami, Philadelphia and Phoenix, according to the release. Source

Customer experience and products

  • Net Promoter Score up five points: The company reported a five-point year-over-year improvement in its Net Promoter Score in the second quarter. Source
  • On-time flight NPS rose again: Management said NPS for on-time flights increased for the 15th time in the past 17 months. Source
  • Premium seats added through deliveries: Premium seats are being added through new 787-9 and A321XLR deliveries and through retrofits of several widebody and narrowbody fleets. Source

Balance sheet and cash flow

  • Liquidity reached $11.3 billion: Total available liquidity was $11.3 billion at quarter end. The first-quarter release reported $10.8 billion. Source
  • Financings addressed 2027 maturity: Management said financings completed during the quarter bolstered liquidity and addressed the company’s only meaningful maturity in 2027. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose in first half: Net cash from operating activities for the six months was $4,694 million, against $3,419 million. Capital expenditures and aircraft deposits were $1,633 million, against $1,323 million. Source
  • Stockholders’ deficit reached $3.97 billion: Total stockholders’ deficit was $3,972 million at June 30, 2026, against $3,727 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Third-quarter and full-year guidance

  • Third-quarter revenue growth 16% to 19%: Management expects third-quarter revenue growth between 16.0% and 19.0%. The prior release gave second-quarter guidance only. Source
  • Full-year EPS guidance lowered on fuel: Full-year adjusted EPS guidance was lowered to between ($0.65) and $0.65, with management citing the recent increase in fuel cost. Source
  • Third-quarter fuel expense to rise: Based on the forward fuel curve as of July 21, management expects third-quarter fuel expense to be up $1.7 billion year over year. Source

People and workforce

  • Regional headcount grew 5.3%: Regional full-time equivalent employees grew faster than mainline. The count covers only wholly-owned regional airline subsidiaries. Source
  • Management thanked team for execution: The CEO thanked the team for execution on commercial and operational objectives during the quarter. Source

Coming up, as management said on 23 July 2026

  • Revenue momentum into second half: Management said revenue momentum is expected to continue into the second half of the year, supported by demand for American’s products. Source
  • More premium seats this summer: Management said American will offer more premium seats this summer than any other airline. Source
  • Lounge upgrades at JFK and DFW: The company plans new and upgraded lounge amenities at JFK and DFW, in addition to previously announced plans for Charlotte and Miami. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total revenue per ASM Source20.45 cents, up 10.3%
Average aircraft fuel price including related taxes Source$4.05 per gallon, up 77.1%
Revenue passenger miles and available seat miles SourceRPMs 68,118 million, up 3.6%; ASMs 81,843 million, up 5.4%
Yield Source22.33 cents, up 11.9%
Aircraft fuel and related taxes Source$4,881 million, up 83.3%
Aircraft at end of period Source1,609 total: 1,030 mainline, 579 regional; up 4.5%

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management said fuel prices have stayed volatile in recent weeks, and its third-quarter estimate uses the forward fuel curve as of July 21. Source
  • Financial: Management cited the recent increase in fuel cost when lowering full-year adjusted EPS guidance. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: The first-quarter release said the company was on track for another record in the second quarter. The second-quarter release reports revenue of $16.7 billion.
  • Not stated: The first-quarter release gave a second-quarter adjusted EPS range. The second-quarter release does not state a comparison against that range.
  • Not stated: The first-quarter release expected the full-year midpoint to be approximately flat to 2025. The second-quarter release gives a revised full-year range.
  • Not stated: Management said it remains focused on expanding margins over time through revenue execution and multiyear efficiency initiatives. Source
  • Not stated: Management said it remains committed to reducing debt, lowering interest expense and achieving its leverage objectives. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.