History of American Airlines
A history of many generations and industry firsts
American was founded more than 95 years ago and has a deep-rooted history leading the industry through innovation and firsts, including hiring the first Black U.S. commercial airline pilot, hiring the first female U.S. commercial airline pilot, launching the first loyalty program of any major carrier and becoming the first airline to introduce airport lounges.
Highlights
1926
American’s long, proud history begins when legendary aviator Charles A. Lindbergh, the chief pilot of Robertson Aircraft Corporation, stowed a bag of mail in his DH-4 biplane and took off from St. Louis to Chicago. Robertson is counted as one of the many airlines that would make up what is now American Airlines.
1936
American becomes the first airline to fly the Douglas DC-3 in commercial service between New York to Chicago.
1939
- All American Aviation, later US Airways, is founded in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
- American begins trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
1940
American becomes the first airline to introduce airport lounges for customers.
1944
American operates its first scheduled air cargo flights from New York’s LaGuardia Airport, marking the world’s first scheduled air cargo service.
1945
American begins operating trans-Atlantic service for the first time with American Overseas Airlines.
1946
American establishes its maintenance and engineering base in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
1951
American promotes Carlene Roberts, the industry’s first female vice president.
1953
American pioneers nonstop transcontinental service across the United States with the Douglas DC-7.
1957
American opens the world’s first special training facility for flight attendants — originally known as stewardesses — in Fort Worth, Texas, named the American Airlines Stewardess College.
1959
American launches the first scheduled transcontinental U.S. passenger service with the Boeing 707, from Los Angeles to New York Idlewild (now John F. Kennedy International Airport).
1964
American hires David Harris, the first Black U.S. commercial airline pilot.
1966
American launches American Way, the airline’s inflight magazine.
1968
The legendary C.R. Smith retires as Chief Executive, having led the airline for more than 30 years.
1970
American merges with Trans Caribbean Airways, gaining new Caribbean routes.
1973
American hires Bonnie Tiburzi Caputo, the first female pilot to join a major U.S. commercial airline.
1977
American launches SuperSaver fares, offering discounted fares that required an advance purchase.
1981
American introduces AAdvantage®, the first airline loyalty program.
1983
America West commences operations in Tempe, Arizona.
1984
American introduces the American Eagle system.
1989
American announces plans to expand its Latin American service with routes from Eastern Airlines.
1991
American celebrates its 1 billionth customer.
1997
All American flights become nonsmoking.
1999
The oneworld® Alliance is launched by founding members American Airlines, British Airways, Canadian Airlines International, Cathay Pacific Airways and Qantas Airways.
2001
- American announces plans to acquire Trans World Airlines assets.
- American tragically loses 23 people, including pilots, flight attendants and family members, in the events surrounding Sept. 11 on Flights 11 and 77.
2005
US Airways merges with America West.
2008
American introduces mobile boarding passes.
2013
AMR Corporation and US Airways Group officially form the American Airlines Group.
2015
- American Airlines Group is added to the S&P 500 index.
- American flies its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner revenue flight.
- American's Robert W. Baker Integrated Operations Center opens in Fort Worth.
- US Airways flies its last flight, Flight 1939.
- American and US Airways begin operating as 1 airline with a Single Passenger Service System.
2016
American celebrates its 90th birthday.
2017
Air Transport World magazine names American its 2017 Airline of the Year.
2019
- American names its 300-acre campus in Fort Worth the Robert L. Crandall Campus in honor of the airline’s former chairman and CEO.
- American’s Skyview 7 and Skyview 8 facilities open for nearly 6,000 leadership and support staff team members in Fort Worth.
- American retires the last of its MD-80 aircraft after 36 years as the workhorse of the airline's fleet.
- American celebrates 75 years of cargo operations.
2020
American accelerates its fleet simplification initiative with the retirement of 5 fleet types.
2021
- American celebrates its 95th birthday by helping to grant 95 wishes with a donation of 10 million AAdvantage® miles to Make-A-Wish.
- American retires American Way.
2022
- American becomes the first airline globally to receive validation from the Science Based Targets initiative for its 2035 greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.
- The oneworld® Alliance relocates its global headquarters to Fort Worth.
2023
- American’s 600-room Skyview 6 Hospitality Complex opens on its Robert L. Crandall Campus.
- Air Transport World magazine names American its 2023 Eco-Airline of the Year.