New York, Feb 23, 2026, 07:04 EST — Premarket
- American Airlines shares rose about 1.8% ahead of the bell, tracking gains across major U.S. carriers
- A powerful Northeast winter storm has triggered thousands of flight cancellations and delays
- Oil prices eased as markets focused on U.S.-Iran nuclear talks and shifting U.S. tariff policy
American Airlines Group Inc shares were up about 1.8% in premarket trading on Monday at $13.59, after ending Friday at about $13.36.
The move comes as a powerful winter storm snarls travel across the U.S. Northeast, a reminder that airlines can lose revenue fast when weather shuts down key corridors. Flight-tracking site FlightAware showed more than 5,300 U.S. flights already canceled for Monday, with cancellations also rising for Tuesday at major airports. (Reuters)
Fuel was the other lever. Oil prices edged lower on Monday as the U.S. and Iran prepared for another round of nuclear talks, while new U.S. tariff moves added fresh uncertainty for global growth. “The tariff news over the weekend has resulted in some risk-aversion flows,” IG Markets analyst Tony Sycamore said. (Reuters)
Other airline stocks were higher in the premarket too, with Delta Air Lines up about 3% and United Airlines up roughly 2.7%, while Southwest Airlines was little changed.
Separately, Washington’s back-and-forth on airport programs stayed in focus for the sector. A TSA spokesperson said PreCheck “remains operational with no change for the traveling public” after an earlier notice tied to a partial Homeland Security shutdown spooked travel groups; the status of Global Entry remained unclear. (Reuters)
American also surfaced in overseas airline news after Brazil’s Azul exited Chapter 11 — the U.S. bankruptcy process that lets companies restructure debt while operating — and said American has a commitment for an additional $100 million equity investment, subject to antitrust approval. “They could have invested in anyone else, but they decided to join us,” Azul CEO John Rodgerson said. (Reuters)
The carrier has been trying to convince investors that 2026 will look better than 2025. In late January, American forecast full-year adjusted earnings of $1.70 to $2.70 per share, above analyst expectations at the time, even as it flagged up to a $200 million hit from Winter Storm Fern. (Reuters)
But the downside case is not hard to sketch. Oil remains volatile, and Goldman Sachs raised its 2026 oil-price forecasts, pointing to lower OECD inventories — a setup that can push jet fuel higher just as airlines are trying to protect margins. (Reuters)
There is also the simple operational risk: if the Northeast storm drags deeper into the week, more cancellations and rebooking costs could follow, and any tightening in staffing or services tied to the Homeland Security funding lapse could hit airport flow at an awkward moment.
For the week ahead, traders will watch updates on storm-related disruptions at big Northeast airports, any progress on antitrust review tied to the Azul investment, and Thursday’s U.S.-Iran nuclear talks in Geneva that could swing oil and, in turn, airline shares. (Reuters)
