American Airlines Reports Massive First Quarter Loss

American Airlines Reports Massive First Quarter Loss

26

At the moment the major US airlines are reporting their first quarter results. We’ve already seen the results from Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines, and now American Airlines has reported their first quarter results as well.

American reports $2.2 billion first quarter loss

American Airlines has today reported:

  • A first quarter loss of $2.2 billion, or $1.1 billion excluding net special items
  • The airline ended the first quarter with $6.8 billion, and expects to end the second quarter with $11 billion in liquidity

Here’s what American Airlines CEO Doug Parker had to say about the results:

“Never before has our airline, or our industry, faced such a significant challenge. True to fashion, the American Airlines team has done a phenomenal job taking care of our customers and each other during such difficult and often heartbreaking times. We are incredibly proud of their selflessness and dedication to others.

We have moved quickly and aggressively to reduce our costs and bolster our liquidity. We are particularly grateful for the $5.8 billion in financial assistance American will receive through the Payroll Support Program, and we appreciate the bipartisan congressional and U.S. Department of the Treasury and Department of Transportation support to protect airline jobs and ensure a strong and competitive U.S. airline industry.

We have a lot of difficult work ahead of us. And while there is still uncertainty in what’s to come, we are confident that through the dedication of the American Airlines team and our swift actions, we will get through this for our team, our customers and our shareholders.”

American airlines reported a $2.2 billion first quarter loss

How American is shrinking, cutting costs

American Airlines plans to reduce operating costs and capital expenditures by more than $12 billion in 2020, achieved through lower fuel expenses and a series of other initiatives, including:

  • Reduced capacity by 80% in April and May, and by 70% in June
  • Retiring 20 Embraer E190s, 34 Boeing 757s, 17 Boeing 767s, and nine A330-300s
  • Suspending all non-essential hiring, pausing non-contractual pay increases, reducing executive and board compensation, and implementing voluntary leave and early retirement programs
  • Nearly 39,000 American employees have opted for early retirement, a reduced work schedule, or a partially paid leave

American Airlines is retiring all 767s

How American is maximizing liquidity

With airlines around the globe burning through cash, airlines are doing what they can to improve liquidity:

  • American ended the first quarter with $6.8 billion of available liquidity, which includes approximately $2 billion raised during the quarter
  • American can access $10.6 billion of financial assistance through the CARES Act
  • American’s unencumbered assets were appraised to be worth over $10 billion, excluding the value of AAdvantage
  • American doesn’t have any large non-aircraft debt maturities for more than 24 months, aside from a recently arranged $1 billion, 364-day delayed draw term loan facility
  • American’s average second quarter cash burn rate is expected to be approximately $70 million per day; by June the airline expects that to be reduced to about $50 million per day

American is looking to raise as much liquidity as possible

Bottom line

I don’t think there’s anything terribly surprising here. American’s loss is roughly in line with United’s, while Delta and Southwest didn’t report losses as big.

Expect the second quarter to be significantly worse, as the airline industry only fully collapsed around mid-March, near the end of the quarter.

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  1. Dan Guest

    Folks, the good times are over. UA, AA, and DA will be just like Frontier and Spirit...just with makeup to cover the not so desirable parts. Why do you think they introduced basic economy? Airlines only REALLY make money when they are run like what they are meant to be - a public good to get from point A to point B. What incentive do the big three have to not be a prettier version...

    Folks, the good times are over. UA, AA, and DA will be just like Frontier and Spirit...just with makeup to cover the not so desirable parts. Why do you think they introduced basic economy? Airlines only REALLY make money when they are run like what they are meant to be - a public good to get from point A to point B. What incentive do the big three have to not be a prettier version of a discount airline that charges for sodas and other things? Do you realize how much taxes and fees come out of a plane ticket? All other fees like sodas and carry on bag is pure profit for the airlines. I’m telling you...you all are in la la land if you think Airlines will remotely be like they were. It’s about survival at this point. If one airline offers one ticket price with drinks included and another airline offers a cheaper ticket, same destination and everything, but no drink included, Most will take the cheaper ticket and bring their own soda. We are heading that way....I’m telling you.

  2. Tim Diamond

    So in 10 years when I read this blog and the US3 airlines are sitting on huge wads of cash, not one person should complain. You will be directed to this post and the sage advice given by commentors. I'm like an elephant, I never forget!

  3. The nice Paul Diamond

    @John
    Both. IAG always has a big “war chest” for opportunistic takeovers; and it’s also a rainy day reserve.

  4. Josh Guest

    October 1st, 2020 will be D-Day for airline workers around the country. Will be interesting to see how this whole thing plays out here. I just do not see people returning in masses for quite some time as the 30,000,000+ people out of work are broke and won't be going anywhere for awhile!

    Interesting times!

  5. John Guest

    @TNP

    I assume IAG was sitting on the cash for a planned acquisition, not planning for a rainy day?

  6. Eskimo Guest

    @David

    "Shouldn’t taxpayer money be used to bail out, for instance, individual taxpayers? Would that make too much sense to understand?"

    Yes, individuals should get bailouts too.
    GOOD NEWS. It's called food stamps, unemployment benefits, shelter, and food banks.
    And on this special occasion, there is an extra $1200 for a new TV and beer to enjoy it with.

    When people complain about corporations getting bailouts, they forgot to look in the mirror.

  7. The nice Paul Diamond

    @jk
    You’re not comparing like-with-like.

    BA received 80% of wages for furloughed staff from a govt initiative open to every UK business to prevent them immediately laying off staff. It wasn’t a subsidy. We’re now seeing a proposal from BA to make ~1/3rd staff redundant, as soon as the furlough scheme ends.

    But BA is not asking (yet?) for any govt subsidy to save it. And it has argued strongly against other airlines...

    @jk
    You’re not comparing like-with-like.

    BA received 80% of wages for furloughed staff from a govt initiative open to every UK business to prevent them immediately laying off staff. It wasn’t a subsidy. We’re now seeing a proposal from BA to make ~1/3rd staff redundant, as soon as the furlough scheme ends.

    But BA is not asking (yet?) for any govt subsidy to save it. And it has argued strongly against other airlines receiving tax-payer money, so seems unlikely to ask for itself.

    BA is much smaller than any of the US3: so how is it sitting on a cash mountain that is so much bigger than those they’ve got? Why have they had to beg their govt for tax-payer cash, while BA has not?

  8. Ryan Member

    @rich wrote:

    Terrible situation but companies have to plan for bad events. Just in the last 20 years we’ve had multiple stock crashes, 9/11, tons of nasty storms and now the virus. Do a better job of preparing for the bad times and I’d be more sympathetic.

    It is 2015 and you are CEO of American Airlines. Congratulations! Among the issues on your desk are (in no particular order): unions that made concessions in 2001,...

    @rich wrote:

    Terrible situation but companies have to plan for bad events. Just in the last 20 years we’ve had multiple stock crashes, 9/11, tons of nasty storms and now the virus. Do a better job of preparing for the bad times and I’d be more sympathetic.

    It is 2015 and you are CEO of American Airlines. Congratulations! Among the issues on your desk are (in no particular order): unions that made concessions in 2001, 2008 and 2011 that now want more in wages and benefits, increased international competition from the ME3 carriers, premium passengers demanding better ground and in-flight service, large institutional investors complaining about the stock price, uncertainty in the oil market, the threat of terrorism and the risk of an external shock that could upend your operation. Please explain how you would address all these issues while still "preparing for the bad times", which we'll define as a major global pandemic that leads to government imposed social distancing and a 90% drop in flight loads, almost overnight, such that you would not need to avail yourself of government assistance when that "bad time" comes.

  9. jk Guest

    i support Ryan's view and notwithstanding the negative aspect of his management nobody could have planned for this. BA gets assistance from UK in the form of furlough that offsets 80% of wages and they will rationalise going forward. Likewise a similar scheme exist in Spain for Iberia, in addition to government loans.

  10. rich Gold

    Terrible situation but companies have to plan for bad events. Just in the last 20 years we've had multiple stock crashes, 9/11, tons of nasty storms and now the virus. Do a better job of preparing for the bad times and I'd be more sympathetic.

    It is like some person making decent money but saves nothing for retirement and wants to whine about having no money. Uh, what did you do to make your...

    Terrible situation but companies have to plan for bad events. Just in the last 20 years we've had multiple stock crashes, 9/11, tons of nasty storms and now the virus. Do a better job of preparing for the bad times and I'd be more sympathetic.

    It is like some person making decent money but saves nothing for retirement and wants to whine about having no money. Uh, what did you do to make your situation better over the last 30+ years? Spending on too big houses or BMWs don't get any sympathy from me.

  11. William Guest

    “US airlines will never lose money again.” LOL.

  12. SullyofDoha Gold

    Probably a lot of creative accounting to ensure a larger cash grab from the US government.

  13. DTG New Member

    AA is still spending money to retrofit to Oasis configuration. This configuration has been widely lauded in the blogs and media as an example of airlines not giving a sh*t about customers, in an already hostile passenger environment due to cramped quarters. Even the bathroom on this plane is infamous for how small it is.

    I think it's disgusting and unforgivable to proceed with this project (and spending to retrofit existing planes to this configuration),...

    AA is still spending money to retrofit to Oasis configuration. This configuration has been widely lauded in the blogs and media as an example of airlines not giving a sh*t about customers, in an already hostile passenger environment due to cramped quarters. Even the bathroom on this plane is infamous for how small it is.

    I think it's disgusting and unforgivable to proceed with this project (and spending to retrofit existing planes to this configuration), particularly in today's environment and after taking taxpayer money. Customers (including myself as EXP and Lifetime PLT) should vote with their wallets on this one. i know I will....

  14. The nice Paul Diamond

    @Ryan
    “... no CEO was going to be allowed to sit on mountains of cash as a rainy day fund. ... Even if AA were sitting on a mountain of cash at that point, it would have not been enough to whether the storm without government support.”

    Except, somehow, presumably miraculously, IAG seems to have been sitting on a mountain of cash which, so far, means it hasn’t asked for a penny of tax-payer...

    @Ryan
    “... no CEO was going to be allowed to sit on mountains of cash as a rainy day fund. ... Even if AA were sitting on a mountain of cash at that point, it would have not been enough to whether the storm without government support.”

    Except, somehow, presumably miraculously, IAG seems to have been sitting on a mountain of cash which, so far, means it hasn’t asked for a penny of tax-payer support?

    Much as most avgeeks hate them, IAG is spectacularly good at, er, the business of making money. Maybe because they’re not long-term subsidy junkies like, say, the US3?

  15. Ryan Member

    @ David wrote:

    @Ryan don’t spend your money on buybacks, for one. Don’t antagonize your customers because you think “AA will never lose money again”. He already made an idiotic $60 prediction which turned out to be completely wrong, but hey keep defending Dougie.

    It seems to me that you are conflating two issues: 1) Parker's general management of AA; and 2) AA's readiness for a pandemic crisis under Parker. I'll address both.

    Regarding the...

    @ David wrote:

    @Ryan don’t spend your money on buybacks, for one. Don’t antagonize your customers because you think “AA will never lose money again”. He already made an idiotic $60 prediction which turned out to be completely wrong, but hey keep defending Dougie.

    It seems to me that you are conflating two issues: 1) Parker's general management of AA; and 2) AA's readiness for a pandemic crisis under Parker. I'll address both.

    Regarding the first issue, I fully agree. AA has not been well run under Parker and he has made many dumb public statements such as the $60 per share statement and the one about never again losing money. The workforce was demoralized going into this crisis and despite investing significant money in improving the premium passenger experience, the service level still was not great. For all these reasons, he needs to go.

    Now, regarding the second issue (the pandemic preparedness), no CEO was going to be allowed to sit on mountains of cash as a rainy day fund. It just was not what the investment community wanted. You can make a compelling argument that the investment community was wrong and/or that managing a company with the primary objective being catering to Wall Street is wrong, but those were the rules of the game and you cannot fault Parker for playing by those rules. This is an unprecedented crisis for commercial aviation (and the country as a whole). Demand rightly dropped out from under them suddenly and to an extent that no one could have predicted even a month before it happened. Even if AA were sitting on a mountain of cash at that point, it would have not been enough to whether the storm without government support.

    Short of hoarding cash (which we've seen was not realistic to expect), what else could AA have done to prepare? Not much. In fact, I'd argue that AA and the other U.S. carriers responded quite nimbly once the scope of the crisis became clear.

    As for government assistance, it is absolutely necessary to preserve a vital sector of our economy (not just the airlines themselves, but all the support infrastructure that goes along with it). The notion that new entrants will come along if the existing airlines fail sounds good in theory, but in the real world the barriers to entry are too high for anyone to replace the capacity lost if a major airline were to fail.

  16. Ryan Member

    @David, not sure why you would read my comment as defending Doug. I'm making fun of him and his idiotic statement...but ok.

  17. Sharon Guest

    AA has terrible leadership, just look at its financial and time stats performance, both are a disaster!

    Delta and Southwest have done far better. While UA also had a huge loss, they have far more international exposure than AA, so it is unbelievable how AA had such a big loss.

  18. David Diamond

    @Ryan don’t spend your money on buybacks, for one. Don’t antagonize your customers because you think “AA will never lose money again”. He already made an idiotic $60 prediction which turned out to be completely wrong, but hey keep defending Dougie.

    @jk Why are taxpayers expected to bail out companies who avoid paying taxes and messed up in a capitalist system? Shouldn’t taxpayer money be used to bail out, for instance, individual taxpayers? Would that...

    @Ryan don’t spend your money on buybacks, for one. Don’t antagonize your customers because you think “AA will never lose money again”. He already made an idiotic $60 prediction which turned out to be completely wrong, but hey keep defending Dougie.

    @jk Why are taxpayers expected to bail out companies who avoid paying taxes and messed up in a capitalist system? Shouldn’t taxpayer money be used to bail out, for instance, individual taxpayers? Would that make too much sense to understand?

  19. The nice Paul Diamond

    @jk
    Industries but not people?

    So people are meant to have prepared/ look out for themselves, while these delicate multibillion dollar corporations need the comfort of massive tax-payer support to get them through these impossible-to-predict times...?

  20. jk Guest

    there are quite a few naive people here who dont appreciate the exceptional impact this pandemic does to the vast majority of industries, let alone avaition.

  21. Ryan Member

    @David, so if you were CEO of American, how would you have prepared the company for this pandemic? What "gamble" did the airline CEOs take w/r/t a pandemic?

  22. David Diamond

    Someone will no doubt come out and defend Dougie. “Who could’ve predicted the Coronavirus?” Except plenty of people were aware of the fact that a pandemic can (and is due to) occur. All these airline CEOs took a gamble and lost, now they want taxpayers to bail them out.

    Typical American “capitalism”.

  23. Mary Odonnell Guest

    Doug Parker and his America West/US Airways management team need to all be removed.

    AA's reputation since the "merger" AKA takeover, has been destroyed by Parker's obsession with converting AA into a low end carrier.

    Provide a quality airline product that customer's would want and would appreciate.

    Remove Parker and his cronies!, please!

  24. Andrew Guest

    Nonsense. Didn't AA promised to shareholders that they will never lose money again, about an year ago?

    They just broke the promise.

  25. Ryan Member

    Remember when ol' boy Douggie said AA will never lose money again?

    That was so awesome.

  26. David Guest

    American and United are both plagued by terrible leadership; Delta and Southwest have far more competent management teams. No surprise that AA and UA would perform much worse as they always have even before covid19.

Featured Comments Most helpful comments ( as chosen by the OMAAT community ).

The comments on this page have not been provided, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser, and it is not an advertiser's responsibility to ensure posts and/or questions are answered.

Dan Guest

Folks, the good times are over. UA, AA, and DA will be just like Frontier and Spirit...just with makeup to cover the not so desirable parts. Why do you think they introduced basic economy? Airlines only REALLY make money when they are run like what they are meant to be - a public good to get from point A to point B. What incentive do the big three have to not be a prettier version of a discount airline that charges for sodas and other things? Do you realize how much taxes and fees come out of a plane ticket? All other fees like sodas and carry on bag is pure profit for the airlines. I’m telling you...you all are in la la land if you think Airlines will remotely be like they were. It’s about survival at this point. If one airline offers one ticket price with drinks included and another airline offers a cheaper ticket, same destination and everything, but no drink included, Most will take the cheaper ticket and bring their own soda. We are heading that way....I’m telling you.

0
Tim Diamond

So in 10 years when I read this blog and the US3 airlines are sitting on huge wads of cash, not one person should complain. You will be directed to this post and the sage advice given by commentors. I'm like an elephant, I never forget!

0
The nice Paul Diamond

@John Both. IAG always has a big “war chest” for opportunistic takeovers; and it’s also a rainy day reserve.

0
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