American Airlines Says Corporate and Premium Travelers Drove Record Revenue in 2025

Corporate travelers and premium leisure customers helped drive American Airlines’ revenue to record levels for both the fourth quarter and full year 2025.

The airline’s fourth-quarter revenue reached $14 billion, and its full-year revenue hit $54.6 billion, despite the impact of the government shutdown, which negatively impacted fourth-quarter revenue by $325 million, according to a Tuesday (Jan. 27) earnings release.

The momentum continued into the first three weeks of 2026, which saw double-digit year-over-year increases in revenue driven by premium cabins and corporate channels, per the release.

During a Tuesday earnings call, American Airlines Chief Financial Officer Devon May said of the fourth quarter: “Premium continued to outperform main cabin throughout the quarter, a trend that has remained consistent all year, underscoring the strength of the premium customer and demand for the premium products we offer.”

American Airlines Group CEO Robert Isom said in the earnings release that the company is benefiting from investments it has made in customer experience, network, fleet, partnerships and loyalty program.

In one upgrade, the airline began rolling out high-speed satellite Wi-Fi on some of its aircraft this month, providing the service free to members of its loyalty program, AAdvantage, Isom said during a Tuesday earnings call. The Wi-Fi offering is sponsored by AT&T.

Isom said during the call that the complimentary Wi-Fi reinforces “connectivity as a core aspect of the customer journey and a benefit that our members value. The early feedback shows increased satisfaction, especially among younger generations.”

AAdvantage continued growing in 2025, with enrollments up 7% from 2024 and up 12% from 2023, according to an earnings presentation released Tuesday.

“American invented airline loyalty, and the AAdvantage program continues to lead the industry,” Isom said during the call. “We offer more value per mile, countless ways to earn and redeem miles, and more ways to engage with AAdvantage members, including complimentary Wi-Fi that started this month.”

The airline’s new 10-year exclusive agreement with Citi began in January and offers expanded loyalty and rewards for AAdvantage members and Citi-branded cardholders, according to the presentation.

Citi and American Airlines announced in December 2024 that Citi would become the exclusive issuer of the AAdvantage co-branded card portfolio in 2026. The companies also said they had extended their existing co-branded partnership for another 10 years.

“With a Citi co-branded credit card, members earn loyalty points for every dollar spent, creating more benefits for customers to engage with American,” Isom said during the Tuesday earnings call. “Our partnership with Citi is designed to drive long-term growth in credit card acquisitions and spend, and the upside is significant.”