01/27/2026
American Airlines has released its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 earnings, and once again the results are disappointing to employees, investors, and Wall Street. While the company posted a small profit, it continues to lag far behind its competitors. This is no longer an isolated issue but a consistent pattern under CEO Robert Isom and the American Airlines Board of Directors.
American’s workforce is not the problem—leadership is. Employees remain committed to the airline’s success, yet American continues to trail Delta and United and sits near the bottom of the industry. The contrast with competitors is clear, and the airline’s priorities are increasingly exposed by comparison.
Concerns raised in October 2025 after American ranked last in the J.D. Power North America Airline Satisfaction Study have gone unaddressed. Last week, the Wall Street Journal’s 2025 Best and Worst Airline Rankings again placed American near or at the bottom across nearly every category. The airline fell from fifth place in 2023 to last place in 2025, ranking in the bottom three for on-time performance, mishandled baggage, and involuntary denied boardings—and dead last for canceled flights.
These results explain the growing frustration among employees, investors, and Wall Street, as well as leadership’s decision to scale back labor-management meetings, town halls, and open Q&A sessions. The excuses have run out.
While overdue investments in premium cabins are welcome, they cannot offset years of poor strategic decisions and underinvestment. Coach cabins remain outdated and uncompetitive, leaving employees to absorb the impact and apologize to customers quarter after quarter.
The questions are simple: What is American’s plan to compete, and why has the Board remained silent as performance continues to decline? The status quo is unacceptable, and accountability at the top is long overdue.
American’s employees want this airline to lead the industry and are ready to make that happen. What is missing is clear leadership, a defined vision, and the investment in people, product, and resources needed to succeed. As competitors move forward and American falls further behind, it is time for new leadership and a new vision for American Airlines.