Jan 26 (Reuters) - U.S. airlines expect strong travel demand that drove record fourth-quarter revenues to continue into 2023, but economic uncertainty and burgeoning labor and operations costs could cloud their rosy outlooks.
On Thursday, American Airlines (AAL.O), JetBlue Airways Corp (JBLU.O) and Alaska Air Group (ALK.N) forecast better-than-expected full-year earnings.
JetBlue forecast expenses excluding fuel to rise 1.5% to 4.5% in 2023.
China's recent reopening may also boost international travel, but demand remains uncertain and U.S. airlines face challenges toward cashing in.
American Airlines forecast an adjusted profit of $2.50 to $3.50 per share for 2023, handily beating analyst expectations of $1.77, according to Refinitiv data.