American Airlines Celebrates the Century Mark

Here's How The World's Largest Airline Has Become an Integral Part of Fort Worth Over The Past 100 Years

American Airlines plane with the 100 year logo
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Fort Worth Digital Diary gives you a locally sourced lay of the land
American Airlines plane with the 100 year logo
1American Airlines plane with the 100 year logo
2American moved its headquarters from New York to Fort Worth in 1979
3American's swanky lounge at JFK Airport
4Inside the Robert L. Crandall Campus - American Airlines HQ in Fort Worth
American Airlines Celebrates the Century Mark
American Airlines plane with the 100 year logo.

American Airlines plane with the 100 year logo.

Source:
Fort Worth Digital Diary gives you a locally sourced lay of the land
American moved its headquarters from New York to Fort Worth in 1979
American Airlines Celebrates the Century Mark
American moved its headquarters from New York to Fort Worth in 1979.

American moved its headquarters from New York to Fort Worth in 1979.

Source:
Fort Worth Digital Diary gives you a locally sourced lay of the land
American's swanky lounge at JFK Airport
American Airlines Celebrates the Century Mark
American's swanky lounge at JFK Airport elevates the experience.

American's swanky lounge at JFK Airport elevates the experience.

Source:
Fort Worth Digital Diary gives you a locally sourced lay of the land
Inside the Robert L. Crandall Campus - American Airlines HQ in Fort Worth
American Airlines Celebrates the Century Mark
Inside the Robert L. Crandall Campus - American Airlines HQ in Fort Worth.

Inside the Robert L. Crandall Campus - American Airlines HQ in Fort Worth.

Source:

American Airlines marks a historic milestone this April. For the world’s largest airline, April 15 means more than just tax day. It marks the date of its very flight. This year, American Airlines marks 100 years since that first flight.

Over the past century, they have made DFW Airport one of the busiest in the world and put down firm roots here, planting their headquarters in Fort Worth.

In fact, American Airlines has been an integral part of the Fort Worth community since it moved its HQ from New York to Fort Worth in 1979. The company’s first flight took place on April 15, 1926. That flight included a bag of US mail in a DH-4 biplane, traveling from Chicago to St. Louis.

The Robertson Aircraft Corporation was then consolidated with more than 80 other small airlines in 1929. The Aviation Corporation was born in 1930. That eventually formed America Airways, which was the predecessor of what the world now knows as American Airlines.

Ahead of the Curve in Luxury Travel Amenities

American's swanky lounge at JFK Airport
American’s swanky lounge at JFK Airport elevates the experience.

American has always been a trendsetter. It opened the very first airport lounge in 1939. The carrier continues to design “exclusive lounges that offer relaxation and premium amenities. With exquisite Bollinger Champagne and locally inspired menus curated by award-winning chefs, customers can relax and recharge before their flight.”

The luxury travel experience doesn’t stop in the terminal or inside an Admiral’s Club lounge.

“The debut of Flagship Suite seats, with privacy doors, more personal storage, and Bluetooth connectivity, offers customers a private premium journey when flying on American’s premium-configured Boeing 787-9 and Airbus A321XLR aircraft.” The next level travel experience includes Lavazza coffees and elevated inflight dining, which are “all a part of American’s polished premium customer service.”

The early 80s saw the introduction of the AAdvantage program. With this novel new program, American engendered loyalty by rewarding its frequent flyers. “Originally invite-only, it allowed travelers to earn miles automatically ― a concept that’s now standard across the industry.”

Fort Worth and American Airlines Have a Long History

Inside the Robert L. Crandall Campus - American Airlines HQ in Fort Worth
Inside the Robert L. Crandall Campus – American Airlines HQ in Fort Worth.

Fort Worth became home to its headquarters in 1933 when it resided in an Art Deco building at Meacham Airport. Then, from 1939 to 1979, it was run out of New York, before American returned to its roots (and its senses) coming back to Fort Worth.

DFW airport became American’s first official hub in 1981. That was soon followed by another hub in Chicago in 1982. And, American has released its plans for a $4 Billion Terminal F addition at DFW.

“DFW is American’s largest and most critical hub, and with this expanded plan for Terminal F, DFW has a clear path to become the largest airline hub in the world,” says American’s CEO Robert Isom. “Dallas-Fort Worth is one of the fastest growing regions in the country, and we’re excited that American and North Texas will continue to grow together. Terminal F will elevate our customer experience in a big way, providing customers with a fantastic new facility and state-of-the-art amenities.”

The new 300-acre Robert L. Crandall Campus in Fort Worth is a stunning campus of eight buildings at 1 Skyview Drive, near the DFW Airport. It officially opened there in 2019.

To celebrate this 100th anniversary, American is honoring the people and moments that shaped the airline as it looks ahead to the next century of “caring for people on life’s journey.”