American Airlines (AAL) stock is experiencing a significant pre-market plunge of 5.10% on Thursday, as the U.S. airline industry faces headwinds from newly imposed tariffs and growing economic uncertainty. The sharp decline comes as investors react to the U.S. government's announcement of sweeping reciprocal tariffs, which are expected to have far-reaching implications for various sectors, including air travel.

The imposition of these tariffs has sparked concerns about potential economic slowdown and its impact on discretionary spending, including air travel. Dan Wasiolek, an analyst at Morningstar Research, noted, "Travel is discretionary and not immune from slower economic growth that might come from the tariff war." This sentiment is reflected in the broader decline across the airline sector, with competitors such as JetBlue, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Southwest Airlines all experiencing pre-market drops.

Adding to the downward pressure on American Airlines' stock, Bank of America Global Research has cut its price objective for the company from $16 to $12. This analyst downgrade further underscores the challenges facing the airline in the current economic climate. As consumers potentially cut back on spending due to economic uncertainty, major U.S. airlines, including American Airlines, may need to reassess their earnings forecasts, contributing to the negative sentiment in the market.