American Airlines Reports Record Q3 Revenue, Beats Expectations Amid Challenges

American Airlines (AAL) reported strong Q3 2025 results with record revenue of approximately $13.7 billion, slightly surpassing analyst expectations. Despite a GAAP adjusted net loss of $0.17 per share, the loss was less than anticipated, attributed to better cost control and demand resilience amid challenges like weather disruptions and an FAA outage. Key operational metrics showed modest capacity growth, a high passenger load factor of 86%, and strong performance in premium cabin revenue and the AAdvantage loyalty program, which saw active accounts rise 7% and co-branded credit card spending increase by 9%. The company issued robust Q4 earnings guidance of $0.45 to $0.75 per share, significantly above consensus estimates, and raised its full-year adjusted EPS outlook to $0.65 to $0.95, signaling confidence in ongoing recovery and financial improvement. American Airlines also strengthened its balance sheet, reducing debt and maintaining liquidity, though it still trails competitors Delta and United in efficiency and unit revenue metrics. CEO Robert Isom highlighted investments in customer experience and network expansion as key to driving future shareholder value.