American Airlines is set to hit a milestone, 100 years in the aviation industry. On April 15, 2026, the airline will be celebrating this milestone with a new logo.
In addition to this, American Airlines took its first mail flight from St.Louis to Chicago, after which the airline grew into one of the largest global networks.
The Achievements and History of American Airlines
Founded as a merger of 80 small airlines in 1926. At the time of its founding, the airline was named American Airways, which was later changed to American Airlines in 1934.
In 1940, the airline became one of the first in the industry to introduce airport lounge services to its customers. In addition to this, American Airlines hired David Harris, the first black U.S commercial airline pilot.
The 2000s were challenging for the airline, which included financial struggles, rising fuel costs and the impact of the September 11 attacks. This led to the merger of American Airlines and US Airways in 103, making it the world’s largest airline by fleet size and revenue at that time.
Current Fleet
Today, American Airlines has a fleet of over 1,582 aircraft. It is also a member of the One World alliance and has codeshares with over 20 airlines across the world.
| Aircraft type | Number of Aircraft |
|---|---|
| Airbus A321 neo | 83 |
| Airbus A319 | 133 |
| Airbus A320 | 48 |
| Airbus A321 | 218 |
| Boeing 737 MAX 8 | 69 |
| Boeing 737-800 | 303 |
| Boeing 777-200ER | 47 |
| Boeing 777-300ER | 20 |
| Boeing 787-8 | 37 |
| Boeing 787-9 | 25 |
| Bombardier CRJ-200 | 37 |
| Bombardier CRJ-700 | 143 |
| Bombardier CRJ-900 | 83 |
| Embraer ERJ-145 | 62 |
| Embraer ERJ-145 | 51 |
| Embraer E170 | 43 |
| Embraer E175(Long) | 175 |
| Embraer E175 (Short) | 48 |
American Airlines is also actively working towards a sustainable aviation industry by using SAF ( Sustainable Aviation Fuel). Its deal with the Japanese Energy giant, Enoes Corporation, that includes the sale and purchase of SAF, contributing to a cleaner environment and the aviation industry.
With a 100-year-old legacy, the American airline overcame struggles to become one of the most renowned airlines across the globe.
Do you like American Airlines and its service? Let us know in the comments!
