American Airlines to launch automated tag for mobility devices

American Airlines to launch an automated tag for mobility devices, part of an ongoing commitment to improve wheelchair and mobility device handling across its network. Developed in-house by American’s Technology team, the tags are currently used in the airports where American and its regional partners operate.

“American is committed to improving the travel experience for our customers who use wheelchairs and mobility devices,” said Julie Rath, American’s Senior Vice President of Airports, Reservations and Service Recovery. “Streamlining the check-in and tagging process is an industry-leading effort that will help us further improve how we handle wheelchairs for our customers who entrust us to transport their devices on their journey.”

New automated tags, replacing the previous manual tags, feature customer- and device-specific data like itineraries, delivery points, device weight, battery type and the number of items removed and taken on board. This additional information will ensure more accurate and consistent information for team members handling the devices and provide enhanced visibility of the devices throughout customers’ travel journeys. The automation also enables the device's information to be more easily shared across frontline team members’ applications, ensuring team members have the right information at the right time.

American has launched multiple improvements across its operation to deliver a positive, more seamless travel experience for customers with wheelchairs and mobility devices. These actions have helped American improve handling of these devices. American’s handling rate for mobility devices improved by nearly 13% from the first half of 2023 to the first half of 2024.

Hands-on training for team members: With the help of an outside organization, American offers in-person mobility device training to its Airport Customer Service and Customer Operations team members and vendor partners, which supplements comprehensive web-based training delivered to all American airport team members.

Investing in airport infrastructure: Wheelchair movers have been deployed and lifts are being installed at the airline’s hubs and other airports with high mobility device traffic, which helps lower the risk of damaging mobility devices and team member injury.

Streamlining the traveller experience: American made it easier for customers to add and maintain wheelchairs and other mobility devices as part of their travel profiles. Starting this fall, customers can conveniently access their saved travel preferences, such as traveling with a mobility device or service animal and apply their details to any upcoming trip when managing on aa.com. Enabling customers to manage these needs digitally ensures the airline has the necessary information to safety and securely transport devices.

.

American Airlines orders 180 CF34 engines to power new Embraer 175 fleet

GE Aerospace announced that American Airlines has finalized an order for 180 CF34-8E engines plus spares to power its fleet of 90 new Embraer 175 regional jets.

"The CF34 engine has a long track record of success with American Airlines and we're grateful the American team is putting its trust in us again," said Russell Stokes, President and CEO, Commercial Engines and Services, GE Aerospace. "This order, along with the CFM deals announced this spring with American, highlight our continued success at providing our customers industry-leading products and services."

More than 7,500 CF34 engines are in service with more than 900 Regional and Business Jet operators globally. The CF34-8E has accumulated more than 40 million flight hours and 29 million cycles since entering service on the Embraer E170/175 in 2004. Today, the CF34 engine line, which includes -3, -8, and -10 models, powers more than 2,500 regional commercial aircraft.

"The reliability and performance of the CF34 engine has been critical to our success for many years," said American's CFO Devon May. "We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with GE Aerospace as we invest in modernizing and strengthening our domestic and regional fleet."

American Airlines offers clear path to pilot career with enhanced Cadet Academy

The enhanced American Airlines Cadet Academy offers a clearer path to becoming a commercial airline pilot. By simplifying the process of transitioning from flight school to the flight deck, the program makes pilot careers at American more accessible. The Cadet Academy is also focused on attracting a diverse pool of qualified candidates through its growing network of partner flight schools and other industry alliances.

A “one-stop shop” for aspiring pilots

It’s not uncommon for aspiring pilots to navigate a maze of flight schools, applications and interviews on their quest to earn a spot with a major carrier. The American Airlines Cadet Academy cuts through this complexity by offering:

Quality flight schools: American has partnered with a network of five high-quality flight schools to provide cadets with a strong foundation for their careers.

“One-and-done” interviewing: Cadet Academy participants go through a single interview process, eliminating the need to interview with multiple airlines throughout their training journey.

Guaranteed placement: Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will receive a placement with one of American's wholly owned regional carriers. American recently established contractual flow-through agreements with each carrier, allowing cadets to transfer directly to the mainline operation once seniority accrues.

A clear path to American: This removes the uncertainty of the traditional application process that typically follows flight school graduation, allowing aspiring pilots to focus on training and skill development.

American Airlines Cadet Academy adds flight school partners

Since its launch in 2018, the Cadet Academy has grown its network of partner flight schools. Today, the program offers cadets a diverse range of training options through five established institutions with locations and capacity to support the airline’s mainline and wholly owned bases of operation:

Infinity Flight Group: American recently welcomed Infinity Flight Group as its first East Coast partner, expanding its network and geography. As the largest flight school in the Northeast, Infinity has a strong commitment to safety, excellence and professionalism and provides comprehensive training tailored to the goals of the Cadet Academy and its cadets. Locations: Trenton, New Jersey; St. Lucie County, Florida (coming soon)

CAE: CAE is a global leader in aviation training. The program’s best-in-class instruction includes access to training requirements from a variety of regulatory bodies, preparing cadets for a successful global career. Location: Mesa, Arizona

American Airlines named best place to work for disability inclusion for ninth consecutive year

American Airlines has received a top score of 100 on the Disability Equality Index® (DEI) and was named one of the best places to work for disability inclusion in 2024 for the ninth consecutive year. The DEI exists to help businesses make a positive impact on the unemployment and underemployment of people with disabilities.

"We are honored to be recognized as a best place to work for disability inclusion and to achieve a top score on the Disability Equality Index,” said Cedric Rockamore, American’s Chief Diversity Officer. “This recognition reaffirms our steadfast commitment to fostering an environment where people from all backgrounds and abilities feel welcomed, valued and celebrated. We are committed to building and nurturing an environment where our team members of all abilities feel empowered to thrive."

The DEI was launched in 2015 in the United States as a joint initiative of Disability:IN and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and is acknowledged today as the most robust disability inclusion assessment tool in business. By completing the DEI, companies can demonstrate their commitment to disability inclusion and equality, as well as broader social issues.

"On the 10th anniversary of the Disability Equality Index, we’re extremely proud of the 542 national and international companies that are taking a proactive role in leading progress towards disability inclusion, setting a benchmark for others to follow. Their dedication to fostering inclusive workplaces not only attracts top talent but also drives innovation and creates sustainable performance in today's global market. Together, we are creating a future where everyone can contribute and thrive,” said Jill Houghton, President and CEO of Disability:IN.

Globally, people with disabilities represent 1.3 billion individuals. Disability is a natural part of the human experience, and it crosses lines of age, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status and other demographics.

Learn more about the DEI at disabilityin.org.

.  

American Airlines Airbus evacuated over smoking laptop

An overheating laptop causes a fire on an American Airlines Airbus A321neo at San Francisco Airport on Friday. Local authorities say the aircraft was operating flight AA2045 to Miami that was scheduled to depart San Francisco when around 13:05 staff onboard reported seeing smoke inside the cabin, while passengers were boarding the jet.

Local media have reported that three people where injured during the incident, including one passenger whilst evacuating the aircraft via the emergency inflatable slide. 

American Airlines said:  “During boarding of American Airlines flight 2045 with service from San Francisco (SFO) to Miami (MIA), smoke was reported from inside a customer’s bag. - The bag was quickly removed by our crew members and all customers exited the aircraft. We thank our crew members for their professionalism and apologize to our customers for the inconvenience.”

Passengers were taken back to the terminal and the FAA has been notified and will investigate the incident. 

.

American Airlines and Tulsa Tech partner to develop aviation maintenance talent pipeline

                    Students in Tulsa Tech’s aviation maintenance technology program now have more than 3,000 new industry mentors thanks to a new partnership announced this week with American Airlines. Students now have direct access to the airline’s Tulsa-based aviation maintenance technicians (AMTs) through ongoing engagement opportunities at the carrier’s maintenance base and on campus. Additionally, top-performing students will secure guaranteed interviews for open positions with the carrier.

While the partnership is new, it’s not the first time American and Tulsa Tech have worked together to inspire future AMTs. In 2011, American donated a McDonnell Douglas MD-80 aircraft to the school, and the iconic aircraft continues to be used today to provide hands-on training opportunities. American’s Tulsa-based AMTs have also mentored award-winning Tulsa Tech student teams in the annual Aerospace Maintenance Council Competition.

American Airlines submits application to U.S. Department of Transportation to serve San Antonio International Airport from Washington Reagan National

American Airlines has formally submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to operate daily, nonstop service between San Antonio International Airport (SAT) and Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA). The 2024 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill was signed into law in May, awarding five new roundtrip flights serving DCA.

The city of San Antonio is the fastest-growing city in the United States and is home to one of the largest concentrations of military bases in the country. It is the largest city in Texas lacking nonstop service to DCA and the largest city in the U.S. with a majority Hispanic population without nonstop service to DCA, which is the most convenient airport for travellers visiting Washington, D.C.

American’s proposed service between SAT and DCA will complement the carrier’s more than 25 daily departures from SAT to seven cities across the U.S. In addition to offering convenient nonstop connectivity between San Antonio and the nation’s capital, American will offer one-stop connections via DCA to destinations in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Canada.

“American is proud to submit an application to provide the only nonstop service between San Antonio and Washington, D.C.,” said Brian Znotins, American’s Senior Vice President of Network and Schedule Planning. “This new service will expand American’s industry-leading domestic network connecting customers to the places they want to visit most.”

“Adding a nonstop route to Reagan National Airport is part of our efforts to expand air operations for the San Antonio region,” said Jesus Saenz, Director of Airports for the San Antonio Airport System. “We’re grateful to American Airlines for their shared vision to improve connectivity and for helping us elevate our service options with a route that will be especially beneficial to our business and military communities. This is yet another step in our commitment to modernize our airport and improve the traveler experience.”

“We have a historic opportunity to increase San Antonio’s access to the nation’s capital, which is particularly important for the members of our military community who rely on air connectivity for operational needs,” said San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg. “Nonstop access to the nation's capital will strengthen our economic ties with leaders in Washington, D.C. and enable greater collaboration with the Pentagon, other federal agencies and leading research institutions. We are grateful to American Airlines for partnering with us to establish this nonstop route that will greatly enhance our city's prosperity.”

For the only nonstop between SAT and DCA, American will use special flight numbers to commemorate the city’s rich history and significant military contributions. Flight 1718 recognizes the year San Antonio was founded and Flight 1947 celebrates the year the U.S. Air Force was established. American’s proposed operation is as follows:

Flight	Departure Airport	Departure Time	Arrival Airport	Arrival Time	Aircraft Type
1718	SAT	6:35 a.m.	DCA	10:59 a.m.	Airbus A321
1947	DCA	7:45 p.m.	SAT	10:20 p.m.	Airbus A321

American is prepared to support appropriate schedule adjustments that allow for the safe and efficient integration of its SAT-DCA service into operations at DCA and the broader Washington, D.C. metropolitan area airspace.

American Airlines releases 2023 Sustainability Report

American Airlines released its 2023 Sustainability Report this week, documenting its work to advance the company's strategy to address climate change and accelerate the broader solutions needed to decarbonize aviation, and sharing progress on other issues important to the company and its stakeholders — including safety, human capital and customer experience.

Key progress in 2023 includes American's collaboration with Breakthrough Energy and Google Research on groundbreaking contrail avoidance research, which will inform how the industry might address its impact on climate change. The report also includes a discussion of how American is extending its commitment to sustainability to its sourcing and procurement practices.

“Thanks to the hard work of our more than 140,000 team members, American continues to deliver for our customers while making strides toward our sustainability goals,” said American's CEO Robert Isom. “There is far more work to be done and many areas where we will continue to rely on policymakers and partnerships to make progress. But I'm proud of our record — from advancing the development of lower-carbon technologies, to our work to better develop and recruit a diverse and talented group of leaders with unmatched expertise throughout the company.”

American Airlines commits to conditional purchase of 100 ZeroAvia hydrogen-powered engines

 American Airlines today announced that it has entered into a conditional purchase agreement with clean aviation innovator ZeroAvia for 100 hydrogen-electric engines intended to power regional jet aircraft with zero inflight emissions save for water vapor.

In addition, American has increased its investment in ZeroAvia. American made its first investment in ZeroAvia in 2022 and has also now participated in the company’s Series C financing round. The engine agreement follows the Memorandum of Understanding the companies announced in 2022.

ZeroAvia is developing hydrogen-electric (fuel cell-powered) engines for commercial aircraft, which offer the potential for close to zero inflight emissions. The company is flight testing a prototype for a 20-seat plane and designing an engine for larger aircraft such as the Bombardier CRJ700, which American operates on certain regional routes.

“Advancing the transition of commercial aviation to a low-carbon future requires investments in promising technologies, including alternate forms of propulsion,” said American’s CEO Robert Isom. “This announcement will help accelerate the development of technologies needed to power our industry and uphold our commitment to make American a sustainable airline so we can continue to deliver for customers for decades to come.”

American Airlines welcomes Fiji Airways to the world of AAdvantage

American Airlines announced that Fiji Airways, Fiji’s national airline, will join the award-winning AAdvantage travel rewards program in the coming year, offering members a host of benefits as well as earning and redemption capabilities when travelling on either airline.

This collaboration means that AAdvantage members will enjoy a seamless experience when traveling on Fiji Airways, receiving benefits such as priority check-in, priority boarding, complimentary baggage allowance, preferred seats and enhanced award redemption.     

“We are taking our partnership with Fiji Airways one step further by offering our mutual customers the opportunity to unlock more destinations and travel experiences through the AAdvantage program,” said Anmol Bhargava, American’s Vice President of Partnerships. “We look forward to welcoming Fiji Airways customers into the AAdvantage® program so they can experience all the ways we deliver on our commitment that travel is better as an AAdvantage member.”

AAdvantage is the longest running travel loyalty program in the world — the program started in 1981 to reward frequent flyers. Now, AAdvantage is much more than a frequent flyer program — it’s a travel rewards program that gives members access to unparalleled experiences, with more ways to earn and use miles, and more rewards and status benefits.   

Step inside American’s Integrated Operations Center IOC

Like the conductor of an orchestra, Ron Erdmann leads a closely coordinated team of professionals. But instead of music, Ron is conducting American’s Boeing 777 operation on a recent afternoon.

Ron, a 35-year veteran of the airline, is an operations coordinator based at American’s Integrated Operations Center (IOC) in Fort Worth, Texas. Before him is a three-dimensional puzzle that’s playing out across five continents: the 67 777s in American’s fleet and the backbone of the airline’s long-haul operation.

At his side are the three other members of his unit: senior aircraft router Matt Hair, who looks after the aircraft themselves; crew coordinator Tiffany Gray-Coleman, who ensures the aircraft have crews available for their flights; and system customer service manager Robert Thornhill, who looks after customers.

Operations Coordinator Ron Erdmann

Think of these units as teams of problem solvers who are committed to getting customers, team members and aircraft on their way when they’re thrown operational curveballs — and looking ahead to prevent issues from getting worse — or appearing altogether.

“An ounce of prevention goes a long way for our operation,” Ron said.

Saving the day for our customers

IOC units like the 777 unit — one of 11 in the building — are known to devise creative solutions when needed to save the day for American’s customers.

Take the time that a group of 54 customers traveling from Sao Paulo, Brazil (GRU), to Orlando, Florida (MCO), were going to misconnect at American’s Miami (MIA) hub. In the unit, the system customer service manager worked closely with the ops coordinator to develop a solution that allowed American to fly the large group to MCO on the same day. The solution? Creating an additional flight that’s known as an extra section.

The maintenance router found an available aircraft at MIA that could accommodate the group, while the crew coordinator found a crew that could staff the flight. The plan worked, and other customers were even able to take advantage of this extra section. Had it not worked, the group would have had to remain in MIA overnight and would have likely been separated as they made their way to MCO.

Recently, the Boeing 787 unit worked together to race a line of weather that was about to impact American’s Chicago (ORD) hub and a critical ORD-London Heathrow (LHR) flight that was scheduled to arrive close to the airport’s curfew time. The unit coordinated a 15-minute early departure that allowed the aircraft to beat the weather and avoid a lengthy delay of at least 8 hours. To make this plan work, the crew coordinator worked to ensure the crew knew of the earlier time and the system customer service manager worked to ensure that there were no tight inbound connections that could be jeopardized by the earlier departure time.

A day in the life

That afternoon, the 777 unit with Ron, Robert, Matt and Tiffany looked after American’s customers — and operation — in a number of ways:

• The team proactively looked at opportunities to swap aircraft — switching one aircraft’s flight assignment for another — to help keep the operation on track. For instance, Matt and Ron proactively looked at the estimated arrival times for different 777 aircraft at London Heathrow (LHR) the following morning and made these swaps to maximize the time between flights, which helps ensure on-time departures.
• A medical diversion saw the unit do two things: work to ensure a customer requiring medical attention was getting the necessary care on the ground and devising a plan for the flight to continue to its destination, which it did after the quick diversion.

System customer service manager Robert Thornhill

Throughout the shift, Ron was looking at the big picture, while Robert was looking out for the customers, Matt was ensuring that aircraft were being sent on the correct flights and Tiffany was looking out for crew issues, ensuring flights were staffed with crew who could operate them.

The unit makes decisions with American’s customers in mind and collectively looks after customers across more than 6,000 flights and 1,500 aircraft a day. Safely solving for the customer — and American’s system — is the main goal. Whether it’s devising an operational plan when a customer has a medical emergency or helping to restart the operation after severe weather impacts a hub, the IOC unit is there to help solve any problems that may arise, day and night.

.

Vasu Raja to leave American Airlines

American Airlines Group Inc. has confirmed that Vasu Raja, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, will depart the airline in June.

Raja has served as American’s Chief Commercial Officer since April 2022. Previously he held the role of Chief Revenue Officer and Senior Vice President of Network Strategy, where he was responsible for Network and Alliances. He joined American in 2004 and has held a variety of roles in Sales, Planning and Revenue Management.

In addition to his current responsibilities and effective immediately, Stephen Johnson, Vice Chair and Chief Strategy Officer, will assume leadership of the Commercial organization and help lead the search for a new Chief Commercial Officer.

.  

It's Cool to Fly American celebrates a decade

This year marks the 10-year anniversary of the It’s Cool to Fly American (ICTFA) program, an initiative centred around preparing children and their families for air travel through mock travel experiences managed by American’s Abilities Employee Business Resource Group (EBRG). The program partners with the HollyRod Foundation and several local organizations to raise awareness and provide resources to families with a loved one living with autism.

“We know the challenges that children with autism may experience in our airports and during a flight,” said Julie Rath, Senior Vice President of Airport Operations at American Airlines. “This program not only helps reduce anxiety and discover the fun and adventure of travel, but it also enlightens our team members to travellers with special needs which, in turn, helps us promote a more inclusive and compassionate environment for all.”

During the events, families can practice the entire air travel experience — from checking in at the airport, going through security, boarding the plane and taxiing out to an active runway and experiencing a simulated take-off. All of these experiences help our customers become more comfortable with the sensory experience of air travel.

Bruce Sickler, Customer Care Manager in Global Reservations and Program Director for ICTFA, started the program in 2014 when he saw the need to bring solutions to the obstacles the disabled community faces while travelling. Sickler suffered an injury that limits his mobility and has a grandson on the autism spectrum, which is why he volunteers his time to educate and advocate on the needs of those living with disabilities. Sickler serves as the global lead for the Abilities EBRG, connecting more than 2,300 team members across five chapters globally.

Since its inception in 2014, “It’s Cool to Fly American” has hosted more than 8,500 participants from approximately 4,500 families in more than 62 locations.

.

American Airlines to add eight new routes to Latin America and the Caribbean in its winter schedule

While summer kicks off, customers can get a head start on planning to get away this winter with more options to visit the Caribbean and Latin America with American Airlines. In winter 2024, American will enhance its industry-leading short-haul international network with eight new routes and increased service, offering flights to more destinations than any other U.S. carrier in the region.

“Customers will have more reasons to choose American than ever before for nonstop fun in the sun this year,” said Brian Znotins, American’s Senior Vice President of Network and Schedule Planning. “We are excited to continue growing our network to the region with more flights this winter to the Caribbean and Latin America than any other U.S. carrier ever.”

American’s winter schedule will offer 11% more departures and 10% more seats compared to its record-setting winter schedule in 2023. Tickets on all routes will be available for sale at aa.com or American’s mobile app starting May 20.

New routes for new beach adventures

American will offer service to one new destination and add seven new routes to its network this winter, allowing travellers to visit familiar and unexplored destinations. American is the only major U.S. airline serving St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVD) and will be the only U.S. airline flying to La Romana, Dominican Republic (LRM). These two destinations join more than 20 others in the region where American provides the only nonstop service from the U.S. among major carriers.

.

American Airlines reports first-quarter 2024 financial results.......

American Airlines Group has reported its first-quarter 2024 financial results this month which shows its revenue of approximately $12.6 billion and achieved its best-ever first-quarter completion factor.

“The American Airlines team continues to build a reliable, efficient and resilient airline,” said American’s CEO Robert Isom. “While we aren’t satisfied with our first-quarter financial results, we have a strong foundation in place, and we remain on track to deliver on our full-year financial targets. Our team is running a fantastic operation, driving revenue through our commercial initiatives, efficiently managing costs, and producing free cash flow to further strengthen our balance sheet.”

Operational performance

American is running the best operation in its history because of a steadfast commitment to operational excellence and strong collaboration across the entire airline. The company produced its best-ever first-quarter completion factor and improved its mishandled baggage rate year over year. American achieved these results despite air traffic control challenges and significant weather events across its network during the quarter.

Financial performance

American produced results within previously guided ranges for each of its operating metrics despite a significant increase in the cost of fuel in the quarter. The company generated record first-quarter revenue of approximately $12.6 billion and a GAAP operating margin of 0.1%. Excluding the impact of net special items1, American produced an operating margin of 0.6% in the first quarter.

Balance sheet

Strengthening the balance sheet remains a top priority for American. In the first quarter, the company reduced total debt by nearly $950 million and has now achieved more than $12 billion, or over 80%, of its goal of reducing total debt by $15 billion by the end of 2025.

1Q24 Financials 

.
  


1Q24 Financials (q4cdn.com)

American launches airline’s first-ever rotating collection of premium onboard amenities and new meals in major in-flight service upgrade

                                                 American Airlines is heating up the inflight experience ahead of the summer travel season with a wave of premium onboard enhancements to make travel even more enjoyable. Customers will fly in style with a new, reimagined amenity kit series and bedding, and savor new dishes throughout their journey. In the future, customers can anticipate an increasingly elevated experience with the arrival of new Flagship Suite® seats.

“We thoughtfully curate each element of the onboard experience so every customer can look forward to the time they spend in flight,” said Kim Cisek, American’s Vice President of Customer Experience. “Part of the magic of travel is connecting our customers to the people and experiences that matter most to them. We’re taking that concept to the skies by introducing a new, dynamic onboard program that’s inspired by feedback from our customers and team members.”

American worked with a mix of boutique and well-known brands to create a program that will evolve throughout the years and feature rotating kit designs and high-quality skincare products in addition to the new bedding program.

A rotation of stylish new amenities and more

The new program will be on board more than 300 international and transcontinental flights beginning Memorial Day weekend in Flagship® First Class, Flagship® Business Class and Premium Economy cabins.

American’s primary amenity kit will be available yearlong for customers flying in premium cabins. The kit will include staple amenities customers have come to expect while in flight, such as a toothbrush, dental kit, eye mask and earplugs, in addition to new and evolving skincare products and offerings. American will cycle new brands and products within the kits for customers in all premium cabins, creating a unique customer experience several times over, based directly on customer feedback.

American collaborated with beauty retailer Thirteen Lune to curate the skincare offerings, which will feature high-quality beauty brands from Thirteen Lune’s tailored collection with wide-ranging representation of diverse founders and voices such as Joanna Vargas and Relevant.

Limited-edition kits

In addition to these rotating products within the kits, customers will enjoy limited-edition speciality kits created in collaboration with diverse designers and brands based primarily in the U.S. Through the designs of these speciality kits, American will recognize specific milestones and initiatives that reflect the values and backgrounds of the airline’s customers and team members. These limited-edition kits will debut in the months and years ahead.

In fact, the all-new amenity program will launch with a Thirteen Lune speciality kit to introduce customers to the new kit line and the opportunity to start collecting the limited-edition kits. Customers flying in premium cabins will receive the Thirteen Lune kit for the first few weeks of the kickoff to the new program. Customers can then look forward to receiving the primary amenity kit on board throughout the rest of the summer.

Each specialty kit will be available for a limited time on eligible flights in Flagship® First Class, Flagship® Business Class and Premium Economy. Travellers will be able to learn about each brand and partner featured in the speciality kit by scanning a QR code found within the kit.

. Special discount limited time offerSave up to 30% now. 
 

Elevated bedding inspired by customer feedback

Customers will travel in elevated comfort with new bedding, pillows and sleepwear that deliver on customer expectations for a restful experience on board. In American’s research with customers, travellers shared that 75% prefer dual-sided pillows, with different materials on each side of the pillow. Based on this feedback, customers travelling across Flagship® First Class or Flagship® Business Class will enjoy a dual-sided pillow with cool touch fabric on one side, and traditional fabric on the other.

American Airlines, Make-A-Wish® and Disney host Wish Flight in support of 28 children battling critical illnesses.

American Airlines, Make-A-Wish and Disney will grant the wishes of children battling critical illnesses in celebration of World Wish Month. On April 17, 28 wish families will board the Wish Flight and fly on a one-of-a-kind, chartered plane from Dallas-Fort Worth to Orlando, Florida, to fulfill their wishes to go to Walt Disney World Resort®.

American recently hosted a special wish reveal celebration at its Fort Worth, Texas, headquarters with local wish families. Team members came together to cheer on the wish kids with congratulatory signs, refreshments and photo stations as the children learned about the extraordinary Wish Flight they will be taking in April.

Wish Flight will be full of unforgettable experiences, beginning with a pre-flight celebration at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, complete with a breakfast bar and a special send-off by WishMakers who make wishes possible. The party will continue with an epic inflight experience and magical moments provided by American, sending these wish kids and their families off on a trip that will be sure to transform their lives.

n addition to interactive games, the flight will feature a special snack menu and surprise moments including live entertainment. The chartered Wish Flight will land at Orlando International Airport, and families will be welcomed by WishMakers cheering their arrival.

American Airlines enhances inflight connectivity and entertainment, will introduce AAdvantage redemption

American continues to make its high-speed inflight Wi-Fi more accessible and easier to use, whether customers connect to work or browse the internet. From introducing a new way for AAdvantage® members to use their miles to consistently improving the inflight connectivity and entertainment experience, customers can look forward to making the most of their time onboard.

• AAdvantage® members will soon be able to use their miles in even more ways with a new option to redeem for Wi-Fi on board.
• All customers can enjoy ad-sponsored Wi-Fi available across 100% of American’s Viasat domestic narrowbody fleet.
• Regional high-speed Wi-Fi installations kick off this summer, bringing high-speed Wi-Fi to nearly 500 dual-class regional aircraft.
• New inflight content and specially curated channels further enhance entertainment offerings.

Coming soon: redeem miles for Wi-Fi in flight

AAdvantage® members will soon be able to use miles to pay for Wi-Fi on board. American will start rolling out this new ability to redeem miles in the next few weeks on a couple select aircraft. By the summer travel season, all of the airline’s Viasat-equipped narrowbody aircraft will offer this ability to unlock Wi-Fi in exchange for miles. With this enhancement to help loyalty go even further, American continues to deliver on the commitment that travel is better as an AAdvantage® member.

Taking Wi-Fi connectivity to new heights

Once connected, customers can enjoy Wi-Fi even longer with gate-to-gate connectivity on most mainline aircraft, allowing customers to stay connected from the minute they find their seat to when they’re deplaning. and connectivity is only going up from here. Customers looking for a free Wi-Fi option can enjoy ad-sponsored Wi-Fi across 100% of American’s Viasat domestic narrowbody aircraft.

All Wi-Fi connectivity enhancements will be powered by a new design for the Wi-Fi portal that customers use inflight, rolling out throughout the year. The new Wi-Fi portal design will further enhance the customer experience by making Wi-Fi offerings even more accessible for customers with a user-friendly Wi-Fi purchase process with fewer clicks and effective direct-to-customer communication through strategic pop-up messaging. The portal will also make content easier to navigate through a sleeker design, providing an aesthetically pleasing experience that highlights American’s Wi-Fi, entertainment and partner offers on a single page.

Airlines try to leverage Boeing woes despite lack of alternatives

Airline executives are frustrated with Boeing as its safety crisis has upended their business plans. But in a tight market for large aircraft supplied by two companies, they have little choice but do business with the U.S. planemaker, reports Rajesh Kumar Singh from Reuters.

Despite some public displays of alarm - United Airlines  CEO Scott Kirby flew to France to talk with Airbus as Boeing's latest crisis erupted - carriers are still negotiating new plane orders, looking to leverage Boeing's delays to secure better terms.

Boeing's delivery schedule faces extended delays following a Jan. 5 mid-flight cabin blowout that exposed problems with safety and quality control in its manufacturing processes. But rival Airbus already has a backlog of orders that makes shifting over a non-starter.

Instead, airlines are adopting a variety of strategies to try to stay in the game with Boeing, using orders of one type of plane as a placeholder to possibly take deliveries of a different model. They also are negotiating harder, looking to use production delays to get discounts from the planemaker on new orders and compensation for financial losses.

"Boeing customers don't have much option but to stick with Boeing whether they like it or not," said Scott Hamilton, managing director at aviation consulting firm Leeham Company.

Kirby has been among the most vocal in expressing frustrations with Boeing. He met with Airbus after regulators grounded all of United's Boeing 737 MAX 9 fleet and put a big question mark over certification of the larger variant MAX 10, which was due for deliveries this year and was to be the cornerstone of United's fleet.

Engine-uity reigns at American’s Tulsa maintenance base

With thousands of parts, many moving at extremely high speeds in an extremely hot environment, modern turbofan engines are a miracle of engineering. But after thousands of arrivals, departures and flight hours, heavy maintenance is required to keep fan blades spinning and customers and team members moving safely in the air. That’s where American’s Base Maintenance facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma, comes in.

Located in the geographic center of the mainland United States, American’s Tech Ops – Tulsa maintenance base has been the backbone of American’s maintenance, repair and overhaul work since 1946. It’s the world’s largest commercial aircraft maintenance base, employing nearly 5,000 team members, including more than 3,200 licensed aviation maintenance technicians and overhaul support mechanics. Each year, more than 800 of the airline’s aircraft visit the base, where the team works around the clock to maintain everything from seats to avionics and complete regularly scheduled maintenance work.

Tucked away in a non-descript building in the middle of the 246-acre base is American’s engine shop, known as American Airlines Engine Repair Overhaul or AAERO. The AAERO team is the best in the business when it comes to overhauling an engine, which means taking it apart completely and rebuilding it. Engines typically require an overhaul after 20,000 flight hours or 7,000 takeoffs and landings. This year, American’s engine shop is on track to increase engine overhaul throughput by nearly 60% over last year, or 150 engines annually, outperforming industry peers by a wide margin. That means fewer aircraft out of service and an even more reliable operation.

“The most important thing to me is the passenger, “said Kevin Harris, Technical Crew Chief for the CFM56 engine, which powers a majority of American’s Boeing 737 and Airbus 320 family aircraft. “Their safety is our number one goal. That engine, to me, is at the heart of keeping them safe.”

The Tech Ops – Tulsa facility was recently awarded $22 million from the State of Oklahoma to make enhancements at the base. The funds are in addition to a $31.6 million engine shop capital investment and ongoing $350 million improvement project made by American. As a result of these investments and added throughput, American is in the process of adding more than 300 new jobs a Tech Ops – Tulsa.

Your travel planning isn’t complete without learning the language—or at least some essential phrases. Fully immerse yourself in the language, or use Phrasebook to learn travel essentials—the choice is yours!