American Airlines reports third-quarter 2023 financial results
FORT WORTH, Texas, Oct. 19, 2023 — American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ: AAL) today reported its third-quarter 2023 financial results, including:
-- Record third-quarter revenue of approximately $13.5 billion.
-- GAAP third-quarter net loss of $545 million, or ($0.83) per diluted
share.
-- Excluding net special items1, third-quarter net income of $263 million,
or $0.38 per diluted share.
-- Record third-quarter completion factor, best among U.S. network carriers.
-- Ended the third quarter with approximately $13.5 billion of total
available liquidity.
-- Reduced total debt2 by $1.4 billion in the third quarter.
-- Credit rating upgraded by Fitch, Moody's and Standard & Poor's during the
third quarter.
“The American Airlines team continues to produce strong results,” said American’s CEO Robert Isom. “Our team is delivering record-setting reliability and operational performance. We are executing on our plans and remain well-positioned for the future, supported by the strength of our network, our young and modern fleet, and our outstanding team.”
Reliability
American delivered a strong operation in the third quarter, including a record-setting performance during the peak travel period this summer. American operated more than 515,000 flights in the third quarter with an average load factor of 84%. The company produced its best-ever third-quarter completion factor and the best completion factor among U.S. network carriers. American is committed to building on this momentum and delivering a reliable operation for customers during the upcoming holiday travel season.
Financial performance
American produced record third-quarter revenues of approximately $13.5 billion, driven by a resilient demand environment and record-setting co-brand credit card and travel rewards program revenue. American saw year-over-year growth in corporate and government revenue in the third quarter and continued strength in demand and revenue from unmanaged business travel.
In the third quarter, the company produced an operating margin of (1.7%) and net loss of $545 million on a GAAP basis. Excluding net special items(1) , American produced an operating margin of 5.4% and net income of $263 million in the third quarter, exceeding the high end of the company’s prior guidance.
Liquidity and balance sheet
American reduced total debt(2) by $1.4 billion in the third quarter. Strengthening the balance sheet continues to be a top priority, and the company is more than 70% of the way to its goal of reducing total debt by $15 billion by the end of 2025. As of Sept. 30, 2023, American had reduced its total debt by approximately $10.9 billion from peak levels in mid-2021.
American’s commitment to strengthening its balance sheet is being recognized, with Fitch, Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s each upgrading the company’s credit rating in the third quarter. The company ended the quarter with approximately $13.5 billion of total available liquidity, comprised of cash and short-term investments plus undrawn capacity under revolving and other short-term credit facilities.
Guidance and investor update
Based on demand trends and the current fuel price forecast and excluding the impact of special items(3) , the company expects its fourth-quarter 2023 adjusted operating margin to be 2% to 4%. American now expects its full-year 2023 adjusted operating margin to be approximately 7%.
For additional financial forecasting detail, please refer to the company’s investor update, furnished with this press release with the SEC on Form 8-K. This filing will also be available at aa.com/investorrelations.
Conference call and webcast details
The company will conduct a live audio webcast of its financial results conference call at 7:30 a.m. CT today. The call will be available to the public on a listen-only basis at aa.com/investorrelations. An archive of the webcast will be available on the website through Nov. 19.
Notes
See the accompanying notes in the financial tables section of this press release for further explanation, including a reconciliation of all GAAP to non-GAAP financial information, including the calculation of free cash flow.
1. The company recognized $808 million of net special items in the third
quarter after the effect of taxes, which principally included operating
net special items of $983 million related to one-time charges resulting
from the ratification of a new collective bargaining agreement with
American's mainline pilots, as well as nonoperating net special items of
$101 million for charges associated with debt extinguishments and
mark-to-market net unrealized losses on certain equity investments.
2. All references to total debt include debt, finance leases, operating
lease liabilities and pension obligations.
3. The company is unable to reconcile certain forward-looking information to
GAAP as the nature or amount of net special items cannot be determined at
this time.
About American Airlines Group
To Care for People on Life’s Journey(R) . Shares of American Airlines Group Inc. trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol AAL and the company’s stock is included in the S&P 500. Learn more about what’s happening at American by visiting news.aa.com and connect with American @AmericanAir and at Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines.
Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements and information
Certain of the statements contained in this report should be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “continue,” “seek,” “target,” “guidance,” “outlook,” “if current trends continue,” “optimistic,” “forecast” and other similar words. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the company’s plans, objectives, expectations, intentions, estimates and strategies for the future, and other statements that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements are based on the company’s current objectives, beliefs and expectations, and they are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results and financial position and timing of certain events to differ materially from the information in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those set forth herein as well as in the company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 (especially in Part I, Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Part II, Item 1A. Risk Factors), and other risks and uncertainties listed from time to time in the company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Additionally, there may be other factors of which the company is not currently aware that may affect matters discussed in the forward-looking statements and may also cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed. The company does not assume any obligation to publicly update or supplement any forward-looking statement to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting these forward-looking statements other than as required by law. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof or as of the dates indicated in the statement.
American Airlines Group Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In millions, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
3 Months Ended Percent 9 Months Ended Percent
September 30, Increase September 30, Increase
2023 2022 (Decrease) 2023 2022 (Decrease)
------- ------- ------------ ------- ------- ------------
Operating
revenues:
Passenger $ 12,421 $ 12,396 0.2 $ 36,502 $ 32,438 12.5
Cargo 193 279 (30.9) 613 970 (36.8)
Other 868 787 10.4 2,611 2,375 10.0
------- ------- ------- -------
Total operating
revenues 13,482 13,462 0.1 39,726 35,783 11.0
Operating
expenses:
Aircraft fuel
and related
taxes 3,209 3,847 (16.6) 9,098 10,369 (12.3)
Salaries, wages
and benefits 3,974 3,384 17.4 10,891 9,773 11.4
Regional
expenses:
Regional
operating
expenses 1,089 1,093 (0.5) 3,224 3,058 5.5
Regional
depreciation
and
amortization 79 81 (1.4) 239 240 (0.5)
Maintenance,
materials and
repairs 870 685 26.9 2,389 1,949 22.6
Other rent and
landing fees 745 710 5.0 2,214 2,081 6.4
Aircraft rent 342 347 (1.4) 1,031 1,045 (1.4)
Selling expenses 430 495 (13.2) 1,357 1,331 1.9
Depreciation and
amortization 487 491 (0.8) 1,456 1,486 (2.0)
Special items,
net 949 37 nm (1) 962 189 nm