People walk past an American Airlines logo on a wall at John F. Kennedy (JFK) airport in in New York November 27, 2013. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri

(Reuters) - American Airlines Group Inc AAL.O, the No. 1 U.S. airline by passenger traffic, reported a fall in profit from a year earlier, when it recorded a $3 billion tax benefit.

The company said its net income fell to $289 million, or 56 cents per share, in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, from $3.28 billion, or $5.09 per share, a year earlier.

Excluding items, the airline earned $1.48 per share.