New York, Feb 7, 2026, 08:54 EST — The market isn’t open.
- American Airlines shares climbed Friday, catching the tailwind from a broader U.S. equity rebound.
- Investors are watching closely as the airline faces off with United at Chicago O’Hare, a battle with plenty on the line.
- Sentiment toward airlines and other cyclicals could swing next week, hinging on the latest U.S. jobs and inflation data.
American Airlines Group Inc (AAL.O) stock surged 7.6% on Friday, closing out the day at $15.24. That move came right after a 1.9% drop in the prior session, according to market data. 1
The Dow cracked 50,000 for the first time as Wall Street’s rebound powered up, pushing investors into economically sensitive stocks. “What’s driven it recently has been the broadening,” said Chuck Carlson, chief executive at Horizon Investment Services. 2
This shift matters for airlines, a sector that tracks closely with consumer spending and interest rates. Early February saw U.S. consumer sentiment tick up to 57.3, matching highs from August, though worries about jobs and inflation haven’t gone away. Oren Klachkin, economist at Nationwide, thinks sentiment may have found a floor, but he isn’t betting on a big bounce: “not optimistic for a sharp rebound.” 3
Friday saw airline shares surge, with United Airlines up 9.3%, Delta Air Lines rising 8%, and American posting a gain of about 7.6%. The move suggests investors are gambling on stronger consumer sentiment fueling an uptick in travel demand. 4
Not everyone’s buying American’s turnaround story, and Chicago keeps proving the trickiest front. United’s Chicago revenue? Deutsche Bank pegs it at roughly $10 billion a year, about twice what American manages—just over $5 billion, according to Reuters. With more seats filling the market this summer, some are bracing for a fare war. “There’s no strategy to put American back anywhere near on top,” pilot union spokesman Dennis Tajer said. But CFO Devon May countered to Reuters, customers are “fantastically” receptive to the busier schedule. 5
Announcements just kept rolling out from the company. Thursday brought word of new summer flights: Philadelphia to Porto, Portugal, kicking off in 2027 with Airbus A321XLRs—assuming they get the regulatory green light. Brian Znotins, who heads network planning, described Porto as “exactly the type of new market” these jets unlock for the airline. 6
On Friday, American rolled out its 100th-anniversary inflight menu, with pre-orders set to open on Feb. 9. Travelers will start seeing the new meal selections onboard starting March and April. “Our centennial year is a chance to reflect on how far we’ve come while continuing to elevate the experience,” said Rhonda Crawford, senior vice president for customer experience design and strategy. 7
Even with the rebound, there’s not a lot of cushion. Margins could get hit hard if pricing pressure flares up in Chicago or another operational snag pops up. Airlines also have to watch for swings in jet fuel prices, plus any fresh pullback in discretionary spending.
Traders are bracing for the January U.S. jobs data coming Feb. 11, and the CPI lands just two days later on Feb. 13. Both releases carry the potential to shake up rate-cut expectations and jolt risk appetite before midday. 8
Washington is also drawing attention. Lawmakers have put a Senate hearing on the calendar for Feb. 12, bringing in NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy after the deadly 2025 mid-air collision involving an American Airlines jet. Regulatory concerns like this can linger, regardless of how travel demand shakes out. 9
