American CEO Sees Bookings Bounceback After Costly Shutdown

American Airlines Group Inc. expects a strong first three months of 2026 after the major US carrier took a “substantial” hit from a government shutdown that forced the industry to cut capacity and deterred passengers.

Bookings for the first quarter look strong, and demand for flying has been resilient, Chief Executive Officer Robert Isom said Wednesday in New York. While he didn’t provide an overall figure for the impacts of the longest federal closure in US history, the early phase cost the airline $1 million a day, a shortfall that grew as capacity cuts took hold.