American Airlines Group (AAL) shares surged 5.68% in after-hours trading on Thursday, reversing earlier losses from the regular session.

The sharp move higher came after reports emerged that the Federal Aviation Administration is seeking to cut additional flights at Chicago O'Hare International Airport this summer. According to sources, the FAA wants to reduce daily operations to around 2,500 flights, down from the 2,800 limit it proposed just last week and significantly below the 3,080 daily operations airlines had announced for the summer season.

American Airlines had previously expressed concerns about "reckless" scheduling at O'Hare by competitor United Airlines, warning that it would lead to operational disruptions. The FAA's push for steeper flight cuts could potentially improve operational reliability and reduce congestion at the critical hub, which may benefit American's operations and scheduling efficiency.