NEW YORK, March 3, 2026, 15:50 EST — Regular session
- American Airlines shares bounced back, now up roughly 0.6%. Earlier, they’d slipped almost 6%.
- Crude’s swings are still yanking airline stocks around, with the Middle East conflict throwing travel plans into disarray.
- Investors have their eyes on March 17—that’s when American is set to address a J.P. Morgan conference.
American Airlines Group trimmed steep losses to trade up about 0.6% at $12.60 late Tuesday, recovering after an earlier drop of nearly 6% as investors remained edgy over fuel prices and the impact of the Middle East conflict.
Jet fuel ranks among airlines’ top costs, so when oil jumps, profits can take a hit—fast—unless companies manage to push higher prices on to travelers. And it’s not just about paying more for fuel. If the shock sticks around, it can cool off demand, too.
Shares of American dropped 4.2% on Monday, hit by a jump in crude prices and a sweep of selling across airline stocks. Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines all lost ground as well, market data and media reports showed.
Volatility is ramping up again, driven by ongoing turmoil across the Gulf’s aviation routes after the recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. With Dubai and Doha — two main hubs — still either shut or facing tight restrictions for a fourth straight day, flight cancellations have piled up past 21,000 since the attacks began, flight tracking data shows, as reported by Reuters. “It’s pretty well the biggest shutdown we’ve seen … since the COVID pandemic,” said Paul Charles, who heads luxury travel consultancy PC Agency. Reuters
Karen Li, who heads Asia infrastructure, industrials and transport research at J.P. Morgan, said carriers won’t all feel the same impact—fuel hedging, cargo exposure, and how well they can reroute flights will make the difference. Airlines have mostly stepped back from fuel hedging, a tactic used to secure future fuel costs, according to Reuters.
Stocks slipped Tuesday, pressure mounting as Tehran’s threat to shut the Strait of Hormuz—crucial for oil shipments—put traders on edge over possible energy price spikes and a protracted conflict. “Investors are growing anxious about the duration of the war and its impact on energy prices,” said Joseph Tanious, chief investment strategist at Northern Trust Asset Management. Reuters
In a separate SEC filing, CEO Robert Isom had 48,429 shares withheld by the company for tax obligations stemming from the vesting of restricted stock units—a standard practice, distinct from any open-market sale.
American announced plans to speak at the J.P. Morgan Industrials Conference on March 17. The live webcast kicks off at 8:10 a.m. ET.
Short-term pressure looks clear—should crude prices remain high or more airspace closes off, airlines get pinched. Higher fuel bills, operational snags, and softer demand all hit at once. That triple threat, traders pointed out, usually lands hardest on carriers with thinner margins and less forward clarity.
For American, investors are zeroed in on oil and jet fuel prices heading into the close and into Wednesday’s session, as well as shifts in Middle East flight disruptions. The next marked event: March 17, when management’s conference comments could sway outlooks for demand and costs before the spring travel wave.
