American Airlines Celebrates 90 Years

On Friday April 15, 2016, American Airlines treated passengers on its Flight 90 from Chicago to London Heathrow were treated to a surprise farewell celebration with gifts and a commemorative photo album as the airline flagged off activities to commemorate its 90th anniversary. The carrier’s staff around the world also joined in the excitement with festivities at various airports, while broadcasting the main events broadcast on social media with the word #HBDAmerican.

American Airline’s history began on April 15, 1926 when Charles Lindbergh, Chief Pilot of Robertson Aircraft Corporation, loaded a bag of mail in his DH-4 biplane and took off from Chicago to St. Louis. 

Ninety years after, Robertson is counted as one of the many airlines that would eventually metamorphose into what is now the world’s largest carrier.

Since that first flight embarked on by Lindbergh the airline’s history as a pioneer has continued. American was the first airline to introduce non-stop transcontinental flight services in 1953 and the first to hire an African-American commercial pilot, Dave Harris, in 1964. The company also claims to have invented loyalty programmes by introducing AAdvantage in 1981. “American is strong and innovating every day in large and small ways. It has been a terrific 90 years and our best days lie ahead," said Doug Parker, Chairman and CEO.