American Airlines: The AAdvantage Airline The stark silver carriers with the tri-color stripes are seen in airports around the world, and though they may have a simplistic approach to their exterior, American Airlines still remains one of the largest airlines in the world, traveling to over 242 destinations in over 50 countries (OneWorld, 2003).

The story of American Airlines parallels the history of Charles Lindbergh who was chief pilot for an aviation company based out of Missouri. It was one of many companies that eventually consolidated to form American Airways, which became American Airlines in 1934. That year saw C.R. Smith become president of American, and "on June 25, 1936, American was the first airline to fly the Douglas DC-3 in commercial service. On Feb. 16, 1937, American carried its one-millionth passenger." (History, 2003).

American Airlines could be called the 'airline of firsts' as beyond being the first commercial service and nations number one airline carrier in the 1930s; in 1957 it was the first airline in the world to maintain a flight training facility. Besides setting milestones in training, the airline was also one of the first to establish a VIP lounge.

Originally the aviation industry had very few strong advocates, and C.R. Smith wanted to do something to show his appreciation, so he created the "Admirals' Club" which was for those individuals and friends of the airline that he called "Admirals." Not long after, other airlines followed suit, and nowadays the Admirals' Club allows membership for anyone over the age of 18 and varying on their frequent flyer, AAdvantage status.

According to the 2002...

aviation industry. This total is out of an approximation of more than 30,000 pilots in the industry (Female Pilots, 2003). American Airlines boasts 519 female pilots out of its approximate 11,465 roster, and at least 63 female captains from a total of 4,962. (Female Pilots).
The figures remain one of the highest compared to other domestic carriers, and it is no surprise, considering it was the first major airline to hire a female pilot, in 1973. Captain Bonnie Tiburzi, was also the first female pilot to retire, after flying with American for over 26 years. 2002 saw Captain Esther Horn become the first female pilot to retire at the age of 60 from American Airlines, and represents that the airline is clearly prepared to set precedents and go against gender-bias that has become an underlying factor in the airline industry.

American's passenger division is one of the largest in the world, with over 149 destinations worldwide (Routes, 2003). "Currently serving 149 cities with a fleet of 840 aircraft, American Airlines employs more than 112,400 employees. In 2001, the airline carried more than 80 million passengers" (Routes, 2003). The airline also operates the hopper service, American Eagle which serves 133 cities with a fleet of 293 aircraft.

Aircraft are the force of any airline and at CR Museum, visitors can see a reconstructed Douglas DC-3 airliner, as well as full-scale engines and a history of the airline that continues to be one of the best fleets in the industry. American operates a variety of aircraft, from the new Boeing 777, to the staple Airbus A300 that combine…