American Airlines Group Inc on Friday reported a fourth-quarter profit above analysts' estimates as cheap fuel continued to add to its bottom line.

American, the world's largest airline, earned US$3.28 billion in the fourth quarter.

Excluding special items, earnings rose by 16.5 percent to US$1.29 billion, or US$2.00 per diluted share. Analysts on average expected US$1.27 billion, or US$1.97 per diluted share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.