NEW YORK, December 28, 2025, 10:19 PM ET — Market closed
- American Airlines shares last closed down 1.5% at $15.44 on Friday [1]
- Airline unveiled a new Dallas Fort Worth hub schedule aimed at improving connections and on-time performance [2]
- Winter storm Devin triggered widespread cancellations and delays across U.S. carriers, FlightAware data showed [3]
American Airlines Group Inc shares last closed down 1.5% at $15.44 on Friday. The carrier outlined a major overhaul of its Dallas Fort Worth International Airport hub as winter storm Devin disrupted U.S. travel. [4]
The timing matters because airlines are moving large numbers of passengers around the year-end travel peak with limited slack in aircraft and crews. Weather-driven cancellations can cascade through networks, pushing up costs and straining on-time performance.
American is leaning on operational changes to reduce those ripple effects. It is betting that smoother connections at its biggest hub will help it recover faster when weather or other disruptions hit. [5]
The stock ended Friday’s session down 24 cents, with about 37.8 million shares traded, according to the company’s investor relations page. American’s market value is about $10.2 billion. [6]
American said it will shift Dallas Fort Worth — known as DFW — from nine “banks” of flights to 13, beginning in April, with the changes visible in schedules starting Dec. 27. A bank is a cluster of arrivals and departures timed to make passenger connections easier. [7]
“Our approach at our largest and most impactful hub must also evolve,” Jim Moses, senior vice president of DFW Operations, said. [8]
American also said it is increasing “block time” in parts of its network. Block time is the scheduled window from gate departure to arrival at the destination gate; airlines sometimes lengthen it to improve on-time performance and reduce missed connections. [9]
DFW accounts for more than 30% of American’s daily connecting customers and checked bags, the airline said. It averages more than 930 departing flights a day at peak. [10]
The operational push comes as winter storm Devin tested airline networks. FlightAware data showed 1,802 U.S. flights were canceled and 22,349 delayed as of 4:04 p.m. ET on Friday. [11]
American canceled 146 flights, while JetBlue canceled 225 and Delta 212, Reuters reported, with United canceling 97. Spokespersons for American, United and JetBlue said the carriers waived change fees for affected travelers. [12]
Disruptions continued into Saturday in the Northeast, with more than 9,000 domestic U.S. flights canceled or delayed by early evening, according to FlightAware. [13]
For airline investors, the storm underscores how quickly operational problems can translate into higher costs. Rebooking, positioning crews and aircraft, and handling misconnected passengers and bags can pressure margins even when demand is strong.
Before Monday’s session, traders will watch updated cancellation and delay counts and whether carriers extend or lift travel waivers as conditions improve in the Northeast. Weather-driven disruptions can also influence bookings and pricing into the New Year’s travel period.
Looking further out, Wall Street calendars show American is expected to report quarterly results around Jan. 22. The carrier in October forecast fourth-quarter adjusted earnings of $0.45 to $0.75 per share. [14]
American shares closed near the middle of their $8.50-to-$19.10 52-week range. Traders often look to fresh guidance on demand and costs to set direction into the new year. [15]
References
1. americanairlines.gcs-web.com, 2. news.aa.com, 3. www.reuters.com, 4. americanairlines.gcs-web.com, 5. news.aa.com, 6. americanairlines.gcs-web.com, 7. news.aa.com, 8. news.aa.com, 9. news.aa.com, 10. news.aa.com, 11. www.reuters.com, 12. www.reuters.com, 13. www.reuters.com, 14. finance.yahoo.com, 15. americanairlines.gcs-web.com
