American Airlines
has ended 2024 with revenues of $54.2 billion, coming up short of its main competition, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, with the carrier still closing the year profitably.
Capacity adjustments and demand strength
On January 23, American Airlines announced its Q4 2024 and 2024 results, with the airline ending the latter period with revenues of $54.2 billion. Speaking about the revenue environment during the last quarter of the year ($13.6 billion revenue in Q4 2024) and 2024, American Airlines said the metrics were record-breaking.
“This revenue performance was driven by the actions the airline took to adjust capacity, combined with continued demand strength.”
Photo: RaksyBH | Shutterstock
In comparison, American Airlines’ Q4 2023 and 2023 revenues were $13 billion and $52.7 billion, respectively, resulting in low single-digit growth in both metrics year-on-year (YoY).
Still, the airline praised its employees for continuing to deliver strong operational results despite extreme weather and other challenges the company faced during the quarter and in 2024. In Q4, it was second in completion factor and on-time departures among the four largest carriers, which, in addition to Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, includes 
Southwest Airlines
.
“For the year, American achieved its second-best completion factor since the merger of American and US Airways, on its largest volume of passengers ever. The team continues to demonstrate its operational resilience and ability to recover from disruptions.”
Related
Delta Air Lines’ Named North America’s Most Punctual Airline In 2023
The airline also won the Cirium Platinum Award for the third consecutive year.
Well-positioned to tackle 2025
Robert Isom, the chief executive officer (CEO) of American Airlines, added that the carrier’s employees achieved several important objectives in 2024, with the executive reiterating its reliable operation as it continues to reengineer the business to build an even more efficient airline.
“As we look ahead to this year, American remains well-positioned because of the strength of our network, loyalty and co-branded credit card programs, fleet and operational reliability, and the tremendous work of our team.”
American Airlines and Citi announced their ten-year agreement in early December 2024, with the bank becoming the exclusive issuer of the AAdvantage
, the carrier’s loyalty program, co-branded credit card portfolio in the US starting in 2026.
The partnership should drive incremental value for both companies, resulting in an expanded loyalty and rewards ecosystem for AAdvantage and Citi-branded card members. Cash remuneration from co-branded credit cards and other partners was $6.1 billion in 2024, American Airlines highlighted (does not include proceeds from the Citi deal).
Related
American Airlines Updates Q4 Guidance With Gains From Citi Credit Card Deal
American Airlines was the third US airline to improve Q4 guidance, with the carrier highlighting an improved revenue environment during the quarter.
Almost 249 million passengers
American Airlines shared that in 2024, it carried 248.7 million passengers, an increase of 7.3%, as its capacity, measured in available seat miles (ASM), grew by 5.5% YoY. The average load factors increased from 83.5% to 84.9%.
Photo: Wenjie Zheng | Shutterstock
Its annual operating expenses increased slightly (3.7%). However, even the lower fuel prices, with the airline spending 6.8% less on fuel YoY, could not help the company improve its operating income, which decreased by 13.9% to $2.6 billion. Some of the highest cost drivers were salaries (up 9.9% YoY) and maintenance-related costs that increased by 16.2% to $16 billion and $3.7 billion, respectively.
In comparison, 
Delta Air Lines
and 
United Airlines
ended the year with net incomes of $3.9 billion (adjusted) and $3.1 billion, respectively. Alaska Airlines, which acquired Hawaiian Airlines in September 2024, ended the year with a net profit of $395 million.
Related
United Airlines Made $3.5 Billion Last Year Flying More Passengers Than Ever
United Airlines’ CEO remarked that 2024 was a strong year, with demand trends in 2025 continuing to accelerate.
