American Airlines has posted pre-tax earnings excluding net special items for the third quarter of 2019 of US$835 million, a 16% year-over-year increase from the third quarter of 2018. Excluding net special items, net income was US$630 million.
Strong passenger demand drove a 3% year-over-year increase in third-quarter 2019 total revenue to a record US$11.9 billion. Driven by a 3-percentage point increase in total passenger load factor, passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) grew 3% to 14.50 cents. Cargo revenue decreased 20% to US$208 million due primarily to a 17% decrease in cargo ton miles. Other revenue was down 4% to US$708 million. Third-quarter 2019 TRASM increased by 2% year over year to 15.71 cents on a 1% increase in total available seat miles, marking the 12th consecutive quarter of growth.
Total third-quarter 2019 operating expenses were US$11.1 billion, up 2% year over year. Total operating cost per available seat mile (CASM) was 14.64 cents in the third quarter of 2019, up 1% from the third quarter of 2018. Excluding fuel and net special items, third-quarter 2019 CASM was 11.07 cents, up 5% year over year due primarily to higher salaries and benefits, maintenance and regional expense, and lower-than-planned capacity.
American has removed all 737 MAX flights from its schedule through Jan. 15, 2020. With the flight cancellations extending through the remainder of 2019, the company now expects the MAX cancellations will negatively impact its full-year 2019 pre-tax income by approximately US$540 million.