New York, Feb 20, 2026, 07:26 (EST) — Premarket
- American Airlines shares hovered near $13.35 in premarket trading after a sharp slide in the prior session
- Oil held near six-month highs, keeping fuel-cost risk front and center for airline stocks
- Washington is back in focus with a House vote on aviation safety legislation set for Monday
American Airlines Group Inc shares were little changed in premarket trading on Friday at $13.35, after ending the previous session down about 5.3%.
Fuel is the swing factor right now. Brent crude was around $71 a barrel and U.S. crude near $66 in Europe trade, as U.S.-Iran tensions kept oil near six-month highs. “The market is nervous, it’s going to be a wait-and-see day,” said Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank. (Reuters)
The pressure was not just on American. Delta Air Lines and United Airlines were both down about 5% from their prior closes, a reminder that airline shares can trade like an oil derivative when crude moves fast.
American, meanwhile, announced it had picked CFM International’s LEAP-1A engines to power its future Airbus A321neo jets, sticking with the supplier for that slice of its narrowbody fleet. CFM, a GE Aerospace–Safran joint venture, will also provide long-term maintenance support, and the company said a single engine type for a fleet model can cut complexity and costs. Financial details were not disclosed; CFM competes with RTX unit Pratt & Whitney on Airbus narrowbody engines. (Reuters)
A filing earlier this week showed the carrier submitted its annual report, known as a Form 10-K, covering the year ended Dec. 31, 2025. (SEC)
Another filing showed Vice Chair Stephen L. Johnson reported receiving 442,708 shares in a restricted stock unit award dated Feb. 17, with 24,449 shares withheld the next day to cover taxes at $14.10 per share. (SEC)
Oil’s latest push has also been tied to U.S. inventory data. Crude inventories fell by 9 million barrels to 419.8 million barrels in the week ended Feb. 13, the Energy Information Administration reported, against expectations for a build. “Support for oil prices came from a very bullish EIA report,” UBS commodity analyst Giovanni Staunovo said. (Reuters)
For American, the timing is awkward. In late January, the airline forecast full-year 2026 adjusted profit of $1.70 to $2.70 per share, with the midpoint above analysts’ average estimate, even as it flagged near-term pressure from weather disruptions. (Reuters)
The broader tape could also set the tone at the open. U.S. stock index futures were flat ahead of a packed data slate, including preliminary fourth-quarter GDP and the Personal Consumption Expenditures index — the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge — due at 8:30 a.m. ET. “We think there is scope for cyclical assets to continue to draw support,” Goldman Sachs economists wrote in a note. (Reuters)
Still, a lot can go wrong for airlines if oil stays bid. A prolonged jump in crude can squeeze margins quickly unless carriers can lift fares, and price competition has a way of showing up when demand softens. The engine deal may help on operating complexity over time, but it doesn’t change the near-term math of fuel.
Next up is Washington. The House is set to vote Monday, Feb. 23, on the ROTOR Act, which would require aircraft operators to equip fleets with automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) — a system that broadcasts an aircraft’s position — by the end of 2031, as lawmakers push broader aviation safety changes tied to a 2025 crash involving an American Airlines regional jet. “This comprehensive bill will make our aviation system safer,” said House Transportation Committee chair Sam Graves. (Reuters)
