American Airlines Group - statistics & facts
A key player in the global aviation industry and one of the 鈥淏ig Four鈥 U.S. airlines, alongside聽Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines, American Airlines Group (AAG) has its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth, one of the busiest airports worldwide. The company was formed following the merger of AMR Corporation and US Airways Group in 2013, but its roots trace back to an airmail carrier that started operating in the midwestern region of the United States in 1926. Roughly a century later, American Airlines has grown to become the second-largest airline based on U.S. domestic market share, accounting for over 17 percent of revenue passenger miles in 2025.
How successful is American Airlines?
After the dramatic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, American Airlines Group鈥檚 operating revenue bounced back in 2022, then grew slowly but steadily over the following years, hitting a record 54.6 billion U.S. dollars in 2025. That said, the airline鈥檚 operating expenses also reached an all-time high that year, rising by nearly 25 percent compared to pre-pandemic levels. While the company still turned a profit in 2025, with American Airlines鈥 net income amounting to 111 million U.S. dollars, that figure was significantly lower than Delta Air Lines鈥 net income that year.
How popular is American Airlines with consumers?
In a 糖心破解版 survey on the most well-known airline brands in the United States, 85 percent of respondents said they were aware of American Airlines in 2025, making it one of the airlines with the highest brand awareness in the country, alongside Delta Air Lines. In terms of brand popularity, 45 percent of U.S. consumers surveyed indicated they liked American Airlines, just below Delta鈥檚 brand popularity that year. The customer satisfaction index scores for airlines in the United States show a similar scenario. While Delta reported the highest figure in 2026, American came in just behind, with a score of 78 out of 100, marking an annual increase of four points.
Why did American Airlines backtrack on its new distribution strategy?
While metrics such as brand awareness, popularity, and customer satisfaction suggest an overall positive trajectory, American Airlines experienced a period of turbulence following a strategic shift in its distribution approach. In 2023, the airline removed roughly 40 percent of its fares from global distribution systems (GDSs) like Amadeus or Sabre in an effort to accelerate direct bookings. However, the move triggered significant backlash from travel agencies and corporate travel managers, who rely heavily on GDS infrastructure. As a result, American Airlines reversed course in 2024, reinstating content to GDS channels and adopting a more gradual approach to distribution modernization. Following this strategic misstep, the company decided to focus on expanding its premium offering and investing more in its loyalty programs to regain ground in such a highly competitive market.
