American Airlines

Lore & Background

The earliest predecessor company of American Airlines to commence operations was Robertson Aircraft Corporation, which began mail flights on April 15, 1926. American Airways was established in 1930 through the union of more than eighty small airlines. The two primary organizations from which American Airways originated were Robertson Aircraft Corporation and Colonial Air Transport. The former was first created in Missouri in 1921, with both being merged in 1929 into holding company The Aviation Corporation.

This, in turn, was made in 1930 into an operating company and rebranded as American Airways. In 1934, when new laws and attrition of mail contracts forced many airlines to reorganize, the corporation redid its routes into a connected system and was renamed American Airlines. The airline expanded its international business over many decades, beginning with routes to Canada in the 1940s, to Mexico in the 1950s, and to Europe in the 1980s, with continued growth into the 21st century.

It purchased Trans World Airlines in 2001. American Airlines played a direct role in developing the Douglas DC-3, which grew out of a marathon telephone call from American Airlines CEO C. R. Smith to Douglas Aircraft Company founder Donald Wills Douglas Sr. The prototype Douglas Sleeper Transport (DST) first flew on December 17, 1935, while the day version, the DC-3, took to the skies later. American Airlines inaugurated its passenger service on June 25, 1936, with simultaneous flights departing from Newark, New Jersey, and Chicago, Illinois.

American also was a key customer for the DC-10, which resulted from a specification from the airline to manufacturers in 1966, though it is not widely credited with a direct development role comparable to its role with the DC-3. On February 19, 1968, the president of American Airlines, George A. Spater, and James S. McDonnell of McDonnell Douglas announced American's intention to acquire the DC-10. The DC-10 entered commercial service with American Airlines on August 5, 1971.

In 2011, due to a downturn in the airline industry, American Airlines' parent company, the AMR Corporation, filed for bankruptcy protection. In 2013, American Airlines merged with US Airways but kept the American Airlines name.

Reader's Guide

As of May 2024 American operates ten hubs: Charlotte, Chicago–O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York–JFK, New York–LaGuardia, Philadelphia, Phoenix–Sky Harbor, and Washington–National. American Airlines is a member of Oneworld alliance. American Airlines has established three joint ventures: the Atlantic Joint Business with Aer Lingus, British Airways, Finnair and Iberia; the Pacific Joint Business with Japan Airlines; and a joint venture with Qantas covering routes between the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. American Airlines also partners with The Landline Company to provide coach bus connections to and from two hubs: O'Hare to Rockford and South Bend; and Philadelphia to Allentown/Bethlehem, Atlantic City, Trenton–Mercer, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and Wilmington. Cabins include Flagship First, Flagship Business, First and Business, and Premium Economy.

Did You Know?

• The airline's largest hub is Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
• American Airlines was originally founded as American Airways in 1930, adopting its current name in 1934.