American Airlines, Inc. is a major airline in the United States headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, within the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. It is the largest airline in the world in terms of passengers carried and daily flights. American, along with its regional subsidiaries and contractors operating under the brand name American Eagle, operates an extensive international and domestic network with almost 6,800 flights per day to nearly 350 destinations in 48 countries. The airline is also a founding member of the Oneworld alliance, one of the world's three major airline alliances.

American Airlines and American Eagle operate out of ten hubs, anchored by Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), the airline's largest. Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) follows as the second-largest hub, serving as a primary gateway for Southeast and transatlantic travel. Miami International Airport (MIA) and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) share the third-place spot, each serving a distinct strategic role: Philadelphia acts as the premier connection point for flights between the western U.S. and Europe, while Miami remains the leading hub for travel to the Caribbean, South America, and Latin America. The airline serves more than 200 million passengers annually and averages more than 500,000 daily. , the company employs 103,440 staff members.

History

The earliest predecessor company of American Airlines to commence operations was Robertson Aircraft Corporation, which began mail flights on April 15, 1926.

American Airlines was established in 1930 through the union of more than eighty small airlines. The two primary organizations from which American Airlines 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 fully developed its international business between 1970 and 2000. 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.. During the call, Smith persuaded a reluctant Douglas to design a sleeper aircraft based on the DC-2 to replace American's Curtiss Condor II biplanes. The existing DC-2 cabin was wide, making it too narrow for side-by-side berths. Douglas agreed to proceed with development only after Smith informed him of American Airline's intention to purchase 20 aircraft.

The prototype Douglas Sleeper Transport (DST) first flew on December 17, 1935, which marked the 32nd anniversary of the Wright Brothers' flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Its cabin was wide. A modified version configured with 21 seats instead of the DST's 14 to 16 sleeping berths was given the designation DC-3. There was no prototype for the DC-3; the first unit built followed seven DSTs off the production line and was delivered straight to American Airlines.Pearcy, Arthur. Douglas DC-3 Survivors, Volume 1. Bourne End, Bucks, UK: Aston Publications, 1987. , p. 17 American Airlines inaugurated its passenger service on June 26, 1936, with simultaneous flights departing from Newark, New Jersey, and Chicago, Illinois.Holden, Henry. "DC-3 History" . dc3history.org. Retrieved October 7, 2010.

American also had a direct role in the development of the DC-10, which resulted from a specification from the airline to manufacturers in 1966 for a widebody aircraft smaller than the Boeing 747 but capable of flying similar long-range routes from airports with shorter runways. McDonnell Douglas responded with the DC-10 trijet shortly after the two companies' merger.Waddington 2000, pp. 6–18. 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. American Airlines ordered 25 DC-10s in its first order.Endres 1998, p. 16."American Orders 25 'Airbus' Jets". St. Petersburg Times, September 14, 2011. The DC-10 made its first flight on August 29, 1970,Endres 1998, pp. 25–26. and received its type certificate from the FAA on July 29, 1971.Endres 1998, p. 28. On August 5, 1971, the DC-10 entered commercial service with American Airlines on a round-trip flight between Los Angeles and Chicago.Endres 1998, p. 52.

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, as it was the more globally recognized brand. The combination of the two airlines created the largest airline in the United States, and ultimately the world.

In December 2023, the company was added to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, and was included for a second consecutive year in December 2024.

Network Hubs

American operates ten hubs: Charlotte: American's hub for the southeastern United States and secondary Caribbean gateway. Chicago–O'Hare: American's hub for the Midwest. Dallas/Fort Worth: American's hub for the southern United States and largest hub overall. Los Angeles: American's hub for the West Coast and transpacific gateway. Miami: American's primary Latin American and Caribbean hub. New York–JFK: American's secondary transatlantic hub mainly serves destinations with high demand from local New York traffic. New York–LaGuardia: American's New York hub for domestic flights with a few exceptions. Philadelphia: American's primary transatlantic hub and Northeastern Hub. Phoenix–Sky Harbor: American's southwestern hub. Washington–National: American's hub for the capital of the United States.

American Eagle

Alliance and codeshare agreements American Airlines is a member of Oneworld alliance and have codeshares with the following airlines:

Aer Lingus Air Tahiti Nui Alaska Airlines Azul Brazilian Airlines British Airways Cape Air Cathay Pacific China Southern Airlines Etihad Airways Finnair Fiji Airways Gol Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes Hawaiian Airlines Iberia IndiGo Japan Airlines JetSmart LEVEL Malaysia Airlines Philippine Airlines Porter Airlines Qantas Qatar Airways Royal Air Maroc Royal Jordanian SriLankan Airlines

Joint ventures American Airlines has established three joint ventures with fellow Oneworld alliance members, expanding beyond basic codesharing to include coordinated route planning, scheduling, and revenue sharing on jointly operated routes. The Atlantic Joint Business covers transatlantic flights with Aer Lingus, British Airways, Finnair and Iberia. The Pacific Joint Business encompasses transpacific flights with Japan Airlines. A joint venture with Qantas covers routes between the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.

Additionally, American Airlines partners with The Landline Company to provide "tarmac-to-tarmac" 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. Interline agreements American Airlines have interline agreements with the following airlines:

My Freighter Airlines Singapore Airlines Starlux Airlines

Fleet

Cabins Flagship First

Flagship First is American's international and transcontinental first class product. It is offered only on Boeing 777-300ERs and select Airbus A321s, which American designates "A321T". The seats are fully lie-flat and offer direct aisle access with only one on each side of the aisle in each row. As with the airline's other premium cabins, Flagship First offers wider food and beverage options, larger seats, and lounge access at certain airports. American offers domestic Flagship First service on transcontinental routes between New York–JFK and Los Angeles, New York–JFK and San Francisco, New York-JFK and Santa Ana, Boston and Los Angeles, and Miami and Los Angeles, as well as on the standard domestic route between New York-JFK and Boston. The airline will debut new Flagship Suite premium seats and a revamped aircraft interior for its long-haul fleet with fresh deliveries of its Airbus A321XLR and Boeing 787-9 aircraft, beginning in 2024.

Flagship Business

Flagship Business is American's international and transcontinental business class product. It is offered on all Boeing 777-200ERs, Boeing 777-300ERs, Boeing 787-8s, and Boeing 787-9s, as well as select Airbus A321s. All Flagship Business seats are fully lie-flat. The amenities in Flagship Business include complimentary alcoholic/non-alcoholic beverages, multi-course meals, and lounge access.

First and Business

First Class is the highest class of service on domestically configured aircraft. When such aircraft are used on international services this cabin is branded as business class. Seats range from in width and have of pitch. Dining options include complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages on all flights as well as standard economy snack offerings, enhanced snack basket selections on flights over , and meals on flights or longer.

Premium Economy is American's economy plus product. It is offered on all widebody aircraft. The cabin debuted on the airline's Boeing 787-9s in late 2016 and is also available on Boeing 777-200s and -300s, and Boeing 787-8s. Premium Economy seats are wider than seats in the main cabin (American's economy cabin) and provide more amenities: Premium Economy customers get two free checked bags, priority boarding, and enhanced food and drink service, including free alcohol. This product made American Airlines the first U.S. carrier to offer a four-cabin aircraft.

Main Cabin

Main Cabin (economy class) is American's economy product found on all mainline and regional aircraft in its fleet. Seats range from in width and have of pitch. American markets several rows within the main cabin immediately behind Main Cabin Extra as "Main Cabin Preferred", which requires an extra charge to select for those without status.

Main Cabin Extra seats are located in the front few rows and exit rows of the economy cabin on all aircraft and have additional pitch, complimentary alcoholic beverages and boarding one group ahead of the main cabin. It is available on all of the mainline fleet and American Eagle aircraft.

Basic Economy

American also offers Basic Economy, the airline's lowest main cabin fare on many routes. Basic Economy consists of a Main Cabin ticket with numerous restrictions, including waiting until check-in for a seat assignment, no upgrades or refunds, and boarding in the last group. Originally Basic Economy passengers could only carry a personal item. Later, American revised their Basic Economy policies to allow for a carry-on bag.

In May 2017, American announced it would add more seats to some of its Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets and reduce overall legroom in the basic economy class. The last three rows were to lose , going from the current . The remainder of the main cabin was to have of legroom. This "Project Oasis" seating configuration has since been expanded to all 737 MAX 8s as well as standard Boeing 737-800 and non-transcontinental Airbus A321 jets. New Airbus A321neo jets have been delivered with the same configuration. This configuration has been considered unpopular with passengers, especially American's frequent flyers, as the new seats have less padding, less legroom, and no seatback entertainment.

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