Categories: Wire Stories

American Airlines Reports Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2021 Financial Results

FORT WORTH, Texas, Jan. 20, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ: AAL) today reported its fourth-quarter and full-year 2021 financial results, including:

  • Fourth-quarter revenue of $9.4 billion, down 17% versus the same period in 2019 on a 13% reduction in total available seat miles (ASMs) versus the same period in 2019.
  • Fourth-quarter net loss of $931 million, or ($1.44) per share. Excluding net special items1, fourth-quarter net loss was $921 million, or ($1.42) per share.
  • Full-year net loss of $2.0 billion, or ($3.09) per share. Excluding net special items2, full-year net loss was $5.4 billion, or ($8.38) per share.
  • Safely transported more than 165 million passengers in 2021, more than any other U.S. carrier.
  • Ended the fourth quarter with $15.8 billion of total available liquidity, the highest year-end liquidity balance in company history.

�As we close out the second year of operating in a global pandemic, we are incredibly proud of the American Airlines team,” said American’s Chairman and CEO Doug Parker. “Over the past year, we have experienced periods of high travel demand countered by periods of decreased demand due to new COVID-19 variants. This volatility has created the most challenging planning environment in the history of commercial aviation. Yet the American team has delivered, growing back faster and further than any other U.S. airline to meet this unpredictable demand. Looking ahead, I’m excited about the future of American with Robert Isom as its new CEO. While we still have work to do as the recovery from the pandemic continues, I have no doubt the best is yet to come for American.”

For the full-year 2021, American achieved its best performance in on-time arrivals, on-time departures and completion factor since the pandemic, despite flying significantly more than any other airline. American’s relative operating performance was particularly strong during the important year-end holiday period. The company’s on-time performance in December was better than any December in years prior to the pandemic, and American performed better than its primary competitors in these operational metrics during the month. These results were achieved despite an increase in sick calls toward the end of the year due to the omicron variant.

“We’re very proud of the way our team delivered throughout 2021,” said American’s President and incoming CEO Robert Isom. “Looking forward, our focus in 2022 will be to continue running a reliable airline, returning to profitability, and delivering on our long-term plan to deleverage the balance sheet.”

American is committed to strengthening its business and achieving profitability by focusing on its three strategic objectives: Create a world-class customer experience, make culture a competitive advantage and build American to thrive forever.

To create a world-class customer experience, American:

  • Expanded its Northeast Alliance (NEA) with JetBlue to provide members of the AAdvantage® and TrueBlue Mosaic loyalty programs with reciprocal elite benefits when traveling on either airline. Customers will experience even more benefits from the NEA this year, including the most flight choices in dozens of markets from New York and Boston, lie-flat seats on all transcontinental routes and a robust international network.
  • Introduced a redesign of the AAdvantage loyalty program, effective in 2022, that removes complicated elite qualifying metrics in favor of an easy-to-understand point system that provides members with multiple ways to earn status. Starting this year, AAdvantage members can earn status by flying, using an AAdvantage credit card for purchases, or spending with an AAdvantage partner.
  • Announced plans to build a new 15,000+-square-foot Admirals Club in Austin, Texas (AUS). The lounge will seat more than 250 customers, making it the largest airport lounge in Austin. Construction will begin this year.
  • Was recognized with the prestigious Five Star rating in The APEX Official Airline Ratings™, Global Airline category, for the fourth consecutive year. The award is based on customer feedback on the overall travel experience.
  • Announced new service between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Doha, Qatar (DOH), which will launch this summer as part of its deepening relationship with Qatar Airways.

To make culture a competitive advantage, American:

  • Celebrated the opening of its Robert L. Crandall Campus in Fort Worth, Texas. Team members from across the system attended with their families and friends and joined a ribbon-cutting ceremony with American’s retired Chairman and CEO Bob Crandall.
  • Welcomed its first flight attendant graduating class since the start of the pandemic. These new flight attendants waited more than 600 days to officially join the airline.
  • Worked to ensure its team members are vaccinated against COVID-19. More than 97% of American’s team members have submitted proof of vaccination or a request for a medical or religious accommodation.

To build American to thrive forever, American:

  • Announced its leadership succession plan in early December. Doug Parker will retire as CEO of American on March 31 and will be succeeded by current President Robert Isom. Isom will join American’s board of directors on the same date, and Parker will continue to serve as chairman of the board. American also announced the senior leadership team that will report to Isom when he becomes CEO.
  • Ended the fourth quarter with $15.8 billion of total available liquidity.
  • Was included in the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index for the first time, the only passenger airline to be included. The recognition is a testament to the airline’s ongoing commitment to excellence in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) matters, including reducing carbon emissions from its operations; advancing diversity, equity and inclusion; and providing regular and transparent ESG disclosures.
  • Finalized a new sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) offtake agreement with Aemetis. The agreement brings the airline’s total SAF commitment to more than 120 million gallons over the next decade, a signal of the integral role SAF will play in American’s efforts to reduce its carbon emissions and achieve its ambitious sustainability goals.
  • Announced that its board of directors has adopted a tax benefit preservation plan to help preserve the value of its net operating losses and other tax attributes. The company estimates that it has $17.2 billion in cumulative U.S. federal net operating loss carryforwards, which are available to reduce future U.S. corporate income tax liabilities.

Guidance and investor update
American will continue to match its forward capacity with observed bookings trends. Based on current trends, the company expects its first-quarter capacity to be down approximately 8% to 10% compared to the first quarter of 2019. American expects its first-quarter total revenue to be down approximately 20% to 22% versus the first quarter of 2019.

For additional financial forecasting detail, please refer to the company’s investor update, filed with this press release with the SEC on Form 8-K. This filing will also be available at aa.com/investorrelations.

Conference call and webcast details
The company will conduct a live audio webcast of its financial results conference call at 7:30 a.m. CST today. The call will be available to the public on a listen-only basis at aa.com/investorrelations. An archive of the webcast will be available on the website through at least Feb. 20.

Notes
See the accompanying notes in the Financial Tables section of this press release for further explanation, including a reconciliation of all GAAP to non-GAAP financial information.

  1. The company recognized approximately $9 million of pre-tax net special items in the fourth quarter of 2021, which principally included $29 million of nonoperating special items primarily for mark-to-market net unrealized losses associated with certain equity investments, offset in part by $20 million of mainline operating net special credits.
  2. The company recognized $4.4 billion of pre-tax net special items in 2021. Mainline operating special items, net principally included $4.2 billion of Payroll Support Program (PSP) financial assistance, offset in part by $168 million of salary and medical costs primarily associated with certain team members who opted into voluntary early retirement programs offered as a result of reductions to the company’s operation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Regional operating special items, net principally included $539 million of PSP financial assistance, offset in part by a $61 million charge associated with the regional pilot retention program which provides for, among other things, a cash retention bonus paid in the fourth quarter of 2021 to eligible captains at the wholly-owned regional airlines included on the pilot seniority list as of September 1, 2021 and a $27 million non-cash charge to write down regional aircraft resulting from the retirement of the remaining Embraer 140 fleet earlier than planned. The company also recognized $60 million of nonoperating net special items, which principally included mark-to-market net unrealized losses associated with certain equity investments and treasury rate lock derivative instruments as well as non-cash charges associated with debt refinancings and extinguishments.

About American Airlines Group
American’s purpose is to care for people on life’s journey. Shares of American Airlines Group Inc. trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol AAL and the company’s stock is included in the S&P 500. Learn more about what’s happening at American by visiting news.aa.com and connect with American on Twitter @AmericanAir and at Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines.

Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements and information

Certain of the statements contained in this report should be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and 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 company’s plans, objectives, expectations, intentions, estimates and strategies for the future, the continuing availability of borrowings under revolving lines of credit, 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 herein as well as in the company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 (especially in Part I, Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Part II, Item 1A. Risk Factors), and other risks and uncertainties listed from time to time in the company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In particular, the consequences of the coronavirus outbreak to economic conditions and the travel industry in general and the financial position and operating results of the company in particular have been material, are changing rapidly, and cannot be predicted. Additionally, 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 statement.

American Airlines Group Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In millions, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
                       
  3 Months Ended
December 31,
  Percent
Increase
  12 Months Ended
December 31,
  Percent
Increase
    2021     2020 (1)   (Decrease)     2021     2020 (1)   (Decrease)
                       
Operating revenues:                      
Passenger $ 8,382     $ 3,190     nm   (2) $ 26,063     $ 14,518     79.5  
Cargo   341       285     19.6       1,314       769     70.8  
Other   704       552     27.7       2,505       2,050     22.2  
Total operating revenues   9,427       4,027     nm       29,882       17,337     72.4  
                       
Operating expenses:                      
Aircraft fuel and related taxes   2,196       698     nm       6,792       3,402     99.6  
Salaries, wages and benefits   3,207       2,637     21.6       11,817       11,229     5.2  
Regional expenses:                      
Regional operating expenses   976       723     35.1       2,888       2,637     9.5  
Regional depreciation and amortization   79       79     1.0       316       325     (3.0 )
Maintenance, materials and repairs   596       331     79.5       1,979       1,585     24.8  
Other rent and landing fees   670       509     31.5       2,619       2,004     30.7  
Aircraft rent   360       336     7.1       1,425       1,341     6.2  
Selling expenses   353       126     nm       1,098       666     65.0  
Depreciation and amortization   579       484     19.8       2,019       2,040     (1.1 )
Special items, net   (20 )         nm       (4,006 )     (657 )   nm  
Other   1,211       619     95.8       3,994       3,186     25.4  
Total operating expenses   10,207       6,542     56.0       30,941       27,758     11.5  
                       
Operating loss   (780 )     (2,515 )   (69.0 )     (1,059 )     (10,421 )   (89.8 )
                       
Nonoperating income (expense):                      
Interest income   5       5     5.2       18       41     (55.2 )
Interest expense, net   (468 )     (376 )   24.9       (1,800 )     (1,227 )   46.8  
Other income, net   52       77     (31.9 )     293       154     89.6  
Total nonoperating expense, net   (411 )     (294 )   40.1       (1,489 )     (1,032 )   44.4  
                       
Loss before income taxes   (1,191 )     (2,809 )   (57.6 )     (2,548 )     (11,453 )   (77.7 )
                       
Income tax benefit   (260 )     (631 )   (58.8 )     (555 )     (2,568 )   (78.4 )
                       
Net loss $ (931 )   $ (2,178 )   (57.2 )   $ (1,993 )   $ (8,885 )   (77.6 )
                       
                       
Loss per common share:                      
Basic and diluted $ (1.44 )   $ (3.81 )       $ (3.09 )   $ (18.36 )    
                       
Weighted average shares outstanding (in thousands):                      
Basic and diluted   648,766       571,984           644,015       483,888      
                       
                       
Note: Percent change may not recalculate due to rounding.                    
                       
(1) Beginning in the first quarter of 2021, aircraft fuel and related taxes as well as certain salaries, wages and benefits, maintenance, materials and repairs, other rent and landing fees, selling and other expenses are no longer allocated to regional expenses on the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations. The three and twelve months ended December 31, 2020 condensed consolidated statements of operations have been recast to conform to the 2021 presentation. This statement of operations presentation change has no impact on total operating expenses or net loss.
                       
(2) Not meaningful or greater than 100% change.          
American Airlines Group Inc.
Consolidated Operating Statistics (1)
(Unaudited)
                           
  3 Months Ended
December 31,
  Increase     12 Months Ended
December 31,
  Increase  
  2021   2020   (Decrease)     2021   2020   (Decrease)  
                           
Revenue passenger miles (millions) 48,982   21,303   nm   %   161,538   91,825   75.9   %
Available seat miles (ASM) (millions) 61,105   33,219   83.9   %   214,535   143,167   49.8   %
Passenger load factor (percent) 80.2   64.1   16.1   pts   75.3   64.1   11.2   pts
Yield (cents) 17.11   14.98   14.3   %   16.13   15.81   2.0   %
Passenger revenue per ASM (cents) 13.72   9.60   42.8   %   12.15   10.14   19.8   %
Total revenue per ASM (cents) 15.43   12.12   27.3   %   13.93   12.11   15.0   %
Cargo ton miles (millions) 485   434   11.7   %   2,082   1,383   50.5   %
Cargo yield per ton mile (cents) 70.28   65.63   7.1   %   63.11   55.63   13.4   %
                           
Fuel consumption (gallons in millions) 931   552   68.8   %   3,324   2,297   44.7   %
Average aircraft fuel price including related taxes (dollars per gallon) 2.36   1.27   86.2   %   2.04   1.48   37.9   %
                           
Operating cost per ASM (cents) 16.70   19.69   (15.2 ) %   14.42   19.39   (25.6 ) %
Operating cost per ASM excluding net special items (cents) 16.74   19.69   (15.0 ) %   16.50   20.06   (17.8 ) %
Operating cost per ASM excluding net special items and fuel (cents) 13.14   17.59   (25.3 ) %   13.33   17.69   (24.6 ) %
                           
Passenger enplanements (thousands) 49,298   23,637   nm   %   165,682   95,324   73.8   %
Departures (thousands):                          
Mainline 252   141   78.7   %   870   619   40.6   %
Regional 259   174   48.9   %   955   720   32.7   %
Total 511   315   62.2   %   1,825   1,339   36.3   %
Average stage length (miles):                          
Mainline 1,133   1,171   (3.3 ) %   1,166   1,132   3.0   %
Regional 478   498   (4.1 ) %   486   477   1.8   %
Total 801   800   0.1   %   810   780   3.9   %
Aircraft at end of period:                          
Mainline (2) 865   855   1.2   %   865   855   1.2   %
Regional (3) 567   544   4.2   %   567   544   4.2   %
Total 1,432   1,399   2.4   %   1,432   1,399   2.4   %
Full-time equivalent employees at end of period:                          
Mainline 96,800   78,300   23.6   %   96,800   78,300   23.6   %
Regional (4) 26,600   24,400   9.0   %   26,600   24,400   9.0   %
Total 123,400   102,700   20.2   %   123,400   102,700   20.2   %
                           
                           
Note: Amounts may not recalculate due to rounding.                          
                           
(1) Unless otherwise noted, operating statistics include mainline and regional operations. Regional includes wholly-owned regional airline subsidiaries and operating results from capacity purchase carriers.
(2) Excludes 36 Boeing 737-800 mainline aircraft that are in temporary storage at December 31, 2021.          
(3) Includes aircraft owned and leased by American as well as aircraft operated by third-party regional carriers under capacity purchase agreements. Excludes eight Embraer 145 and two Embraer 170 regional aircraft that are in temporary storage at December 31, 2021.
(4) Regional full-time equivalent employees only include our wholly-owned regional airline subsidiaries.
American Airlines Group Inc.
Consolidated Revenue Statistics by Region
(Unaudited)
                           
  3 Months Ended
December 31,
  Increase     12 Months Ended
December 31,
  Increase  
  2021   2020   (Decrease)     2021   2020   (Decrease)  
                           
Domestic (1)                          
Revenue passenger miles (millions) 38,623   17,915   nm   %   130,900   73,083   79.1   %
Available seat miles (ASM) (millions) 46,230   26,392   75.2   %   161,724   112,349   43.9   %
Passenger load factor (percent) 83.5   67.9   15.6   pts   80.9   65.0   15.9   pts
Passenger revenue (dollars in millions) 6,808   2,663   nm   %   21,453   11,765   82.4   %
Yield (cents) 17.62   14.86   18.6   %   16.39   16.10   1.8   %
Passenger revenue per ASM (cents) 14.73   10.09   46.0   %   13.27   10.47   26.7   %
                           
Latin America (2)                          
Revenue passenger miles (millions) 6,936   2,956   nm   %   22,242   11,405   95.0   %
Available seat miles (millions) 9,093   4,732   92.2   %   33,151   16,273   nm   %
Passenger load factor (percent) 76.3   62.5   13.8   pts   67.1   70.1   (3.0 ) pts
Passenger revenue (dollars in millions) 1,131   466   nm   %   3,506   1,852   89.3   %
Yield (cents) 16.31   15.76   3.5   %   15.76   16.24   (2.9 ) %
Passenger revenue per ASM (cents) 12.44   9.85   26.3   %   10.58   11.38   (7.1 ) %
                           
Atlantic                          
Revenue passenger miles (millions) 3,148   266   nm   %   7,450   4,982   49.5   %
Available seat miles (millions) 5,157   1,368   nm   %   16,379   10,251   59.8   %
Passenger load factor (percent) 61.0   19.4   41.6   pts   45.5   48.6   (3.1 ) pts
Passenger revenue (dollars in millions) 410   33   nm   %   965   654   47.5   %
Yield (cents) 13.03   12.49   4.3   %   12.95   13.13   (1.3 ) %
Passenger revenue per ASM (cents) 7.95   2.43   nm   %   5.89   6.38   (7.7 ) %
                           
Pacific                          
Revenue passenger miles (millions) 275   166   65.6   %   946   2,355   (59.9 ) %
Available seat miles (millions) 625   727   (14.0 ) %   3,281   4,294   (23.6 ) %
Passenger load factor (percent) 44.0   22.9   21.1   pts   28.8   54.8   (26.0 ) pts
Passenger revenue (dollars in millions) 33   28   15.3   %   139   247   (43.7 ) %
Yield (cents) 11.94   17.15   (30.4 ) %   14.71   10.49   40.3   %
Passenger revenue per ASM (cents) 5.25   3.92   34.0   %   4.24   5.75   (26.3 ) %
                           
Total International                          
Revenue passenger miles (millions) 10,359   3,388   nm   %   30,638   18,742   63.5   %
Available seat miles (millions) 14,875   6,827   nm   %   52,811   30,818   71.4   %
Passenger load factor (percent) 69.6   49.6   20.0   pts   58.0   60.8   (2.8 ) pts
Passenger revenue (dollars in millions) 1,574   527   nm   %   4,610   2,753   67.4   %
Yield (cents) 15.20   15.58   (2.4 ) %   15.05   14.69   2.4   %
Passenger revenue per ASM (cents) 10.58   7.73   36.9   %   8.73   8.93   (2.3 ) %
                           
Note: Amounts may not recalculate due to rounding.                        
                           
(1) Domestic results include Canada, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands.
(2) Latin America results include the Caribbean.

?Reconciliation of GAAP Financial Information to Non-GAAP Financial Information

American Airlines Group Inc. (the Company) sometimes uses financial measures that are derived from the condensed consolidated financial statements but that are not presented in accordance with GAAP to understand and evaluate its current operating performance and to allow for period-to-period comparisons. The Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures may also provide useful information to investors and others. These non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similarly titled non-GAAP measures of other companies, and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for or superior to, any measure of performance, cash flow or liquidity prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Company is providing a reconciliation of reported non-GAAP financial measures to their comparable financial measures on a GAAP basis.

The tables below present the reconciliations of the following GAAP measures to their non-GAAP measures:

– Pre-Tax Loss (GAAP measure) to Pre-Tax Loss Excluding Net Special Items (non-GAAP measure)
– Pre-Tax Margin (GAAP measure) to Pre-Tax Margin Excluding Net Special Items (non-GAAP measure)
– Net Loss (GAAP measure) to Net Loss Excluding Net Special Items (non-GAAP measure)
– Basic and Diluted Loss Per Share (GAAP measure) to Basic and Diluted Loss Per Share Excluding Net Special Items (non-GAAP measure)
– Operating Loss (GAAP measure) to Operating Loss Excluding Net Special Items (non-GAAP measure)

Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate the Company’s current operating performance and to allow for period-to-period comparisons. As net special items may vary from period-to-period in nature and amount, the adjustment to exclude net special items allows management an additional tool to understand the Company’s core operating performance.

Additionally, the tables below present the reconciliations of total operating costs (GAAP measure) to total operating costs excluding net special items and fuel (non-GAAP measure) and total operating costs per ASM (CASM) to CASM excluding net special items and fuel. Management uses total operating costs and CASM excluding net special items and fuel to evaluate the Company’s current operating performance and for period-to-period comparisons. The price of fuel, over which the Company has no control, impacts the comparability of period-to-period financial performance. The adjustment to exclude fuel and net special items allows management an additional tool to understand and analyze the Company’s non-fuel costs and core operating performance.

        3 Months Ended
December 31,
  Percent
Increase
  12 Months Ended
December 31,
  Percent
Increase
  Reconciliation of Pre-Tax Loss Excluding Net Special Items       2021       2020     (Decrease)     2021       2020     (Decrease)
        (in millions, except share and per share amounts)       (in millions, except share and per share amounts)    
                             
  Pre-tax loss as reported     $ (1,191 )   $ (2,809 )       $ (2,548 )   $ (11,453 )    
  Pre-tax net special items:                          
  Mainline operating special items, net (1)       (20 )               (4,006 )     (657 )    
  Regional operating special items, net (2)                       (449 )     (309 )    
  Nonoperating special items, net (3)       29       (36 )         60       170      
  Total pre-tax net special items       9       (36 )         (4,395 )     (796 )    
                             
  Pre-tax loss excluding net special items     $ (1,182 )   $ (2,845 )   (58.5 %)   $ (6,943 )   $ (12,249 )   (43.3 %)
                             
                             
  Calculation of Pre-Tax Margin                          
                             
  Pre-tax loss as reported     $ (1,191 )   $ (2,809 )       $ (2,548 )   $ (11,453 )    
                             
  Total operating revenues as reported     $ 9,427     $ 4,027         $ 29,882     $ 17,337      
                             
  Pre-tax margin       (12.6 %)     (69.7 %)         (8.5 %)     (66.1 %)    
                             
                             
  Calculation of Pre-Tax Margin Excluding Net Special Items                          
                             
  Pre-tax loss excluding net special items     $ (1,182 )   $ (2,845 )       $ (6,943 )   $ (12,249 )    
                             
  Total operating revenues as reported     $ 9,427     $ 4,027         $ 29,882     $ 17,337      
                             
  Pre-tax margin excluding net special items       (12.5 %)     (70.7 %)         (23.2 %)     (70.7 %)    
                             
                             
  Reconciliation of Net Loss Excluding Net Special Items                          
                             
  Net loss as reported     $ (931 )   $ (2,178 )       $ (1,993 )   $ (8,885 )    
  Net special items:                          
  Total pre-tax net special items (1), (2), (3)       9       (36 )         (4,395 )     (796 )    
  Net tax effect of net special items       1       4           993       170      
  Net loss excluding net special items     $ (921 )   $ (2,210 )   (58.3 %)   $ (5,395 )   $ (9,511 )   (43.3 %)
                             
                             
  Reconciliation of Basic and Diluted Loss Per Share Excluding Net Special Items                          
                             
  Net loss excluding net special items     $ (921 )   $ (2,210 )       $ (5,395 )   $ (9,511 )    
                             
  Shares used for computation (in thousands):                          
  Basic and diluted       648,766       571,984           644,015       483,888      
                             
  Loss per share excluding net special items:                          
  Basic and diluted     $ (1.42 )   $ (3.86 )       $ (8.38 )   $ (19.66 )    
                             
        3 Months Ended December 31,       12 Months Ended December 31,    
  Reconciliation of Operating Loss Excluding Net Special Items       2021       2020           2021       2020      
        (in millions)       (in millions)    
                             
  Operating loss as reported     $ (780 )   $ (2,515 )       $ (1,059 )   $ (10,421 )    
                             
  Operating net special items:                          
  Mainline operating special items, net (1)       (20 )               (4,006 )     (657 )    
  Regional operating special items, net (2)                       (449 )     (309 )    
  Operating loss excluding net special items     $ (800 )   $ (2,515 )       $ (5,514 )   $ (11,387 )    
                             
                             
  Reconciliation of Total Operating Cost per ASM Excluding Net Special Items and Fuel                          
                             
  Total operating expenses as reported     $ 10,207     $ 6,542         $ 30,941     $ 27,758      
                             
  Operating net special items:                          
  Mainline operating special items, net (1)       20                 4,006       657      
  Regional operating special items, net (2)                       449       309      
  Total operating expenses, excluding net special items       10,227       6,542           35,396       28,724      
                             
  Aircraft fuel and related taxes       (2,196 )     (698 )         (6,792 )     (3,402 )    
  Total operating expenses, excluding net special items and fuel     $ 8,031     $ 5,844         $ 28,604     $ 25,322      
                             
        (in cents)       (in cents)    
                             
  Total operating expenses per ASM as reported       16.70       19.69           14.42       19.39      
                             
  Operating net special items per ASM:                          
  Mainline operating special items, net (1)       0.03                 1.87       0.46      
  Regional operating special items, net (2)                       0.21       0.22      
  Total operating expenses per ASM, excluding net special items       16.74       19.69           16.50       20.06      
                             
  Aircraft fuel and related taxes per ASM       (3.59 )     (2.10 )         (3.17 )     (2.38 )    
  Total operating expenses per ASM, excluding net special items and fuel       13.14       17.59           13.33       17.69      
                             
  Note: Amounts may not recalculate due to rounding.                          
                             
  FOOTNOTES:                          
                             
(1) The 2021 twelve month period mainline operating special items, net principally included $4.2 billion of Payroll Support Program (PSP) financial assistance, offset in part by $168 million of salary and medical costs primarily associated with certain team members who opted into voluntary early retirement programs offered as a result of reductions to the Company’s operation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cash payments for salary and medical costs primarily associated with the Company’s voluntary early retirement programs were approximately $40 million and $520 million for the 2021 fourth quarter and twelve month period, respectively.

The 2020 twelve month period mainline operating special items, net principally included $3.7 billion of PSP financial assistance, offset in part by $1.5 billion of fleet impairment charges, $1.4 billion of salary and medical costs primarily associated with certain team members who opted into voluntary early retirement programs and $228 million of one-time labor contract expenses due to the ratification of a new contract with the Company’s maintenance and fleet service team members, including signing bonuses and adjustments to vacation accruals resulting from pay rate increases.

Cash payments for salary and medical costs primarily associated with the Company’s voluntary early retirement programs were approximately $195 million and $365 million for the 2020 fourth quarter and twelve month period, respectively.

Fleet impairment charges resulted from the retirement of certain aircraft earlier than planned driven by the severe decline in air travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mainline aircraft retired in 2020 included the Company’s entire Airbus A330-200, Boeing 757, Boeing 767, Airbus A330-300 and Embraer 190 fleets. The 2020 twelve month period fleet impairment charges included a $1.4 billion non-cash write-down of mainline aircraft and spare parts and $102 million in cash charges primarily for impairment of right-of-use assets and lease return costs.

                             
(2) The 2021 twelve month period regional operating special items, net principally included $539 million of PSP financial assistance, offset in part by a $61 million charge associated with the regional pilot retention program which provides for, among other things, a cash retention bonus paid in the fourth quarter of 2021 to eligible captains at the wholly-owned regional airlines included on the pilot seniority list as of September 1, 2021 and a $27 million non-cash charge to write down regional aircraft resulting from the retirement of the remaining Embraer 140 fleet earlier than planned.

The 2020 twelve month period regional operating special items, net included $444 million of PSP financial assistance, offset in part by a $117 million non-cash charge to write-down regional aircraft and spare parts associated with certain Embraer 140 and Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft, which were retired as a result of the severe decline in air travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

                             
(3) Principally included mark-to-market net unrealized gains and losses associated with certain equity investments and treasury rate lock derivative instruments as well as non-cash charges associated with debt refinancings and extinguishments.
American Airlines Group Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In millions)(Unaudited)
       
  Year Ended
December 31,
    2021       2020  
       
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities $ 704     $ (6,543 )
Cash flows from investing activities:      
Capital expenditures, net of aircraft purchase deposit returns   (208 )     (1,958 )
Airport construction projects, net   (204 )     (173 )
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment   193       351  
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions   181       665  
Purchases of short-term investments   (19,454 )     (5,873 )
Sales of short-term investments   13,923       2,803  
Increase in restricted short-term investments   (401 )     (308 )
Proceeds from vendor         90  
Other investing activities   (13 )     61  
Net cash used in investing activities   (5,983 )     (4,342 )
Cash flows from financing activities:      
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt   12,190       11,780  
Payments on long-term debt and finance leases   (7,343 )     (3,535 )
Proceeds from issuance of equity   460       2,970  
Deferred financing costs   (209 )     (93 )
Treasury stock repurchases and shares withheld for taxes pursuant to employee stock plans   (18 )     (173 )
Dividend payments         (43 )
Other financing activities   208       88  
Net cash provided by financing activities   5,288       10,994  
Net increase in cash and restricted cash   9       109  
Cash and restricted cash at beginning of year   399       290  
Cash and restricted cash at end of year (1) $ 408     $ 399  
       
___________      
(1)  The following table provides a reconciliation of cash and restricted cash to amounts reported within the consolidated balance sheets:
       
Cash $ 273     $ 245  
Restricted cash included in restricted cash and short-term investments   135       154  
Total cash and restricted cash $ 408     $ 399  
American Airlines Group Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In millions, except shares)
 
       
    December 31, 2021       December 31, 2020  
  (unaudited)    
Assets      
       
Current assets      
Cash $ 273     $ 245  
Short-term investments   12,158       6,619  
Restricted cash and short-term investments   990       609  
Accounts receivable, net   1,505       1,342  
Aircraft fuel, spare parts and supplies, net   1,795       1,614  
Prepaid expenses and other   615       666  
Total current assets   17,336       11,095  
       
Operating property and equipment      
Flight equipment   37,856       37,816  
Ground property and equipment   9,335       9,194  
Equipment purchase deposits   517       1,446  
Total property and equipment, at cost   47,708       48,456  
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization   (18,171 )     (16,757 )
Total property and equipment, net   29,537       31,699  
       
Operating lease right-of-use assets   7,825       8,039  
       
Other assets      
Goodwill   4,091       4,091  
Intangibles, net   1,988       2,029  
Deferred tax asset   3,556       3,239  
Other assets   2,109       1,816  
Total other assets   11,744       11,175  
       
Total assets $ 66,442     $ 62,008  
       
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)      
       
Current liabilities      
Current maturities of long-term debt and finance leases $ 2,489     $ 2,797  
Accounts payable   1,772       1,196  
Accrued salaries and wages   1,489       1,716  
Air traffic liability   6,087       4,757  
Loyalty program liability   2,896       2,033  
Operating lease liabilities   1,506       1,651  
Other accrued liabilities   2,766       2,419  
Total current liabilities   19,005       16,569  
       
Noncurrent liabilities      
Long-term debt and finance leases, net of current maturities   35,571       29,796  
Pension and postretirement benefits   5,053       7,069  
Loyalty program liability   6,239       7,162  
Operating lease liabilities   6,586       6,777  
Other liabilities   1,328       1,502  
Total noncurrent liabilities   54,777       52,306  
       
Stockholders’ equity (deficit)      
Common stock, 647,727,595 shares outstanding at December 31, 2021   6       6  
Additional paid-in capital   7,234       6,894  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (5,942 )     (7,103 )
Retained deficit   (8,638 )     (6,664 )
Total stockholders’ deficit   (7,340 )     (6,867 )
       
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity (deficit) $ 66,442     $ 62,008  

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