Some US airlines fly high in 2025, smaller rivals face turbulence

Shares of U.S. airlines with major international operations are set to finish 2025 at a comfortable altitude, propelled by premium air travel demand

Strong demand from affluent travelers is helping airlines offset a pullback in spending by price-sensitive customers

United Airlines UAL.O up about 14.3%, Southwest Airlines LUV.N up 23.6% and Delta Air Lines DAL.N shares up 14.3% in 2025, YTD

However, the 43-days government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history affected flight operations nationwide

American Airlines AAL.O down about 11.8% YTD

YTD, smaller rivals JetBlue Airways JBLU.O and Alaska Air Group ALK.N shares down 41.5% and 22.5%, respectively

Winter Storm Ezra disrupted holiday travel across the U.S. Northeast, Midwest and Great Lakes, leading to thousands of flight cancellations and delays

U.S. carrier Alaska Airlines reported technology outage that grounded flights across the country and forced it to cancel more than 400 flights