American Air CFO Sees Demand, Fares Going Up in 2026

Demand & Revenue Trends - Demand weakened earlier in the year but accelerated heading into Q4 [1] - The company experienced softness in demand due to economic uncertainty, particularly from February through the first part of Q3, but saw improving trends within Q3, with September turning positive year-over-year [2] - September unit revenue was strong, and this trend is continuing into October and Q4, with flat unit revenue projected [3] - Premium cabin is a significant revenue driver, accounting for approximately 50% of revenue gains, while economy class demand has also recovered [3][4] - The company had to cut prices for economy class earlier in the year, contributing to negative unit revenue across the airline industry [5][6] - Business travel is still below 2019 levels, but the company is seeing a pickup in revenue and is regaining market share after a change in distribution strategy [9][10][11] Pricing & Inflation - Airfares are expected to increase, potentially in line with or more than inflation next year, especially given the depressed fares in the first half of 2025 [7] - The company aims to increase airfares, which have been declining, and expects this to happen in 2026 [8] Fleet & Capital Allocation - The company is on track to acquire 50 new jets this year and 59 next year [14] - The company has removed buffer time from delivery schedules due to improved performance from Boeing and Airbus [15][16] - The company prioritizes investments in new planes and the fleet, followed by using free cash flow to strengthen the balance sheet [18] Debt Reduction - The company has reduced total debt from $54 billion at peak COVID levels to $368 billion at the end of Q3 and aims to bring it below $35 billion in the next year and a half [19][20] External Factors - The government shutdown has had a minimal revenue impact (less than $1 million per day) and has not significantly affected operations [21] - The company is observing a reacceleration in the economy and consumer demand, with both higher-end and lower-end consumers returning to travel [24][25][26]