American Airlines forecast deeper losses this year as record revenue failed to help the airline recover from rising fuel costs this year. As a result, the airline plans to slow its capacity growth next year. American said Thursday that it expects to lose between $1 and $1.60 per share on an adjusted basis for the full year. In July, it forecast earnings as high as 65 cents per share with a loss of just 65 cents per share. Shares of the airline fell about 4% in premarket trading. “American delivered record third-quarter revenue and the strongest year-over-year revenue growth of my career, with premium performance leading the way,” American CEO Robert Isom said in a news release. “The investments we are making in the four pillars of our business strategy are working and we expect another quarter of record revenue growth to close the year.” The Fort Worth, Texas-based airline is the fourth major U.S. airline to cut its 2026 guidance due to a surge in jet fuel following the start of the war with Iran. Rising jet fuel prices have also pushed airline ticket prices up more than 20% from last year. Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines also cut their outlooks this month. Jet fuel is airlines’ biggest cost after labor, and the increase has added billions to costs this year. American’s fuel bill rose 67.5% in the third quarter from a year ago, to $4.64 billion. American forecasts it will lose between 50 cents and $1.10 per share, adjusted, in the fourth quarter, with revenue expected to rise as much as 22.5% from a year ago and capacity to increase between 5.5% and 6.5%. Here’s what American reported in the third quarter compared to Wall Street estimates compiled by LSEG: Loss per share: 28 cents adjusted vs. 35 cents expected Revenue: $16.34 billion vs. $1.10 per share, adjusted, in the fourth quarter. 16.22 billion dollars are expected. For the third quarter, American had a net loss of $269 million, or 41 cents per share, compared with $114 million, or 17 cents per share, a year earlier. Adjusting for one-time items, American reported a loss of 28 cents per share. Revenue increased 19.3% from the previous year, to $16.34 billion. Isom has been under pressure to boost profits at the airline, which has lagged far behind profitable rivals Delta and United. American has been investing in new lounges and renovated cabins with more premium seats. Earlier this month, the airline appointed a new network chief. It was the latest step in a management restructuring that included new hires in its operations department and commercial team. Last year, American hired a new business chief, industry veteran Nat Pieper.
