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):             
Mainline252 141 78.7 % 870 619 40.6 %
Regional259 174 48.9 % 955 720 32.7 %
Total511 315 62.2 % 1,825 1,339 36.3 %
Average stage length (miles):             
Mainline1,133 1,171 (3.3)% 1,166 1,132 3.0 %
Regional478 498 (4.1)% 486 477 1.8 %
Total801 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 %
Total1,432 1,399 2.4 % 1,432 1,399 2.4 %
Full-time equivalent employees at end of period:             
Mainline96,800 78,300 23.6 % 96,800 78,300 23.6 %
Regional (4)26,600 24,400 9.0 % 26,600 24,400 9.0 %
Total123,400 102,700 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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