American Airlines Group Inc. will pay its first dividend since 1980 and repurchase $1 billion in stock, matching a buyback by United Airlines’ parent as the once-struggling industry returns more cash to investors, Bloomberg reported yesterday. The 10-cents-a-share quarterly payout came as the 2013 merger with US Airways has been delivering financial benefits faster than the company expected. United Continental Holdings Inc. unveiled its plan while returning to profit after recording the only first-quarter loss among its U.S. peers. Stockholder rewards from American and United underscored the turnabout among U.S. carriers after bankruptcies, consolidation and nine years of losses through 2009 that totaled $58 billion. Chicago-based United left court protection in 2006, and American did so in December when it merged with US Airways.
