American Airlines on Thursday reported better-than-expected quarterly profit, as higher fares failed to dent demand for air travel during the crucial holiday season.

The Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier reported an adjusted profit of $827 million, or $1.17 per share, for the quarter ended Dec. 31, compared with a loss of $921 million, or $1.42 per share, a year earlier.

Analysts on average had expected the airline to post a profit of $1.14 per share, according to Refinitiv IBES data.

(Reporting by Aishwarya Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva)