<div id="readability-page-1"><div><p><span>American Airlines </span><span> is telling investors that travel demand remains firm, even as higher jet fuel costs push ticket prices upward and US consumer confidence softens. Chief Executive Robert Isom said travelers still want to fly, with demand holding across domestic routes, international routes, and premium offerings. The key point for investors is that American still expects 2026 profitability to look similar to 2025, when the airline reported adjusted net income excluding special items of $237 million, despite a much heavier fuel bill.</span></p><p><span>United Airlines </span><span> is striking a similar tone. Chief Executive Scott Kirby said the demand environment is pretty strong and noted that a pricing cleanup has taken place, while adding that he feels good about double-digit margins next year. That confidence comes even as the Conference Board's consumer confidence gauge slipped 0.7 point to 93.1, with rising prices tied to the war in Iran creating more pressure for households, particularly lower-income consumers facing the recent spike in fuel costs.</span></p><p><span>For investors, the split could be increasingly important: full-service carriers are leaning into premium demand, while low-cost airlines face more pressure from rising fuel costs. American plans to use fleet upgrades and new aircraft to add more premium seating for higher-paying customers, while Isom said the airline is focused on organic growth rather than acquisitions. He said American could be opportunistic in acquiring assets such as aircraft or gates, but pushed back again on a merger with United, saying such a deal would be viewed as anti-competitive by just about everybody looking at it.</span></p></div></div>

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<p>American Airlines and United Airlines CEOs assert strong travel demand despite rising fuel costs and declining consumer confidence. American Airlines expects profitability in 2026 to mirror 2025, while United Airlines anticipates double-digit margins next year. Both airlines are focusing on premium offerings to counteract pressures from fuel prices, with American emphasizing organic growth and fleet upgrades over mergers.</p>

Airline CEOs Defend Demand As Fuel Costs Hit Consumers