FORT WORTH, Texas, April 11, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- American Airlines Group (NASDAQ:AAL) today reported March and year-to-date 2017 traffic results.

American Airlines Group’s total revenue passenger miles (RPMs) were 18.8 billion, down 1.2 percent versus March 2016. Total capacity was 23.0 billion available seat miles (ASMs), down 0.9 percent versus March 2016. Total passenger load factor was 81.5 percent, down 0.2 percentage points versus March 2016.

The Company expects its first quarter 2017 total revenue per available seat mile (TRASM) to be up approximately 2 percent to 4 percent year-over-year. In addition, the Company expects its first quarter pre-tax margin excluding special items to be between 4 percent and 6 percent. This compares to prior guidance which had TRASM up approximately 1.5 percent to 3.5 percent and pre-tax margin of 3 percent to 5 percent. The improvements from prior guidance are driven primarily by higher yields. For more financial forecasting detail, including the Company’s anticipated first quarter net special items, please refer to the Company’s investor relations update also filed today.

The following summarizes American Airlines Group traffic results for the month ended March 31, 2017, and March 31, 2016, consisting of mainline-operated flights, wholly owned regional subsidiaries and operating results from capacity purchase agreements.

About American Airlines Group
American Airlines and American Eagle offer an average of nearly 6,700 flights per day to nearly 350 destinations in more than 50 countries. American has hubs in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C. American is a founding member of the oneworld® alliance, whose members serve more than 1,000 destinations with about 14,250 daily flights to over 150 countries. Shares of American Airlines Group Inc. trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol AAL. In 2015, its stock joined the S&P 500 index. Connect with American on Twitter @AmericanAir and at Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Information
This document includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of 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 expected first quarter pre-tax margin, the expected change in total revenue per available seat mile, the Company’s plans, objectives, estimates, expectations and intentions, 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 in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 (especially in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors, and Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations) and in the Company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), and other risks and uncertainties listed from time to time in the Company’s other filings with the SEC. 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 statements.

Corporate Communications
817-967-1577
mediarelations@aa.com

Investor Relations
817-931-3423
investor.relations@aa.com