AMR Says Revenue Measurement Fell In 2Q

DALLAS (AP) — American Airlines said Thursday that its revenue per capacity fell between 16 and 17 percent in the second quarter compared with a year earlier.

The decline was slightly larger, between 16.2 and 17.2 percent, when including regional operations of parent AMR Corp., the company said in a regulatory filing.

The decline in revenue per available seat mile underscored the difficulty airlines are facing. Traffic is falling, and air fares are at relatively low levels historically.

Fort Worth-based AMR said it expected to end the second quarter on June 30 with more than $2.8 billion in unrestricted cash and short-term investments. That cash cushion is virtually unchanged from the end of the first quarter.

AMR said cost per available seat mile, a closely watched measure of spending in the airline industry, rose in June after falling in May.

AMR, which also operates American Eagle, estimated its fuel price in the second quarter at $1.91 a gallon and predicted it will rise to $2.07 a gallon for the full year.

Shares of AMR fell 20 cents, or 4.4 percent, to $4.38.