Day and night, rain or shine, American’s team of system customer service managers (SCSM) has a sharp focus on our customers, helping to ensure their journeys go smoothly. Though they’re based at American’s Integrated Operations Center (IOC) in Fort Worth, Texas, the SCSMs have their eye on every customer, looking for operational solutions to get customers on their way.
Daniel Schiff, the IOC’s Senior Manager of Network Ops Strategy, recently sat down with System Customer Service Manager Kim Burrell for a discussion about their roles at the IOC.
Daniel: Let’s start with the basics: what is American’s Integrated Operations Center?
Kim: We call it the IOC, and it’s the nerve center of our airline. In this large facility, more than 20 workgroups — and 1,700 team members — come together to help run our airline 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. We work collaboratively to solve challenges that come our way, from weather to anything else.
American’s Integrated Operations Center.
Daniel: Our strategy is our customers, and the SCSMs ensure our customers get where they want to go smoothly. The team is always thinking ahead to minimize disruptions.
Kim: That’s exactly right. A day in the life for me is busy and full of twists and turns. When I get in, I’m assigned to a unit, which is broken down by the types of aircraft we operate and hubs that we fly into. The unit is led by an Operations Coordinator, who works in tandem with team members overseeing our fleet, our crew members and, in the case of SCSMs, our customers.
Daniel: SCSMs have a key role in caring for group travel. We have large groups —sometimes really large groups with hundreds of customers — who travel throughout our network. It’s critically important they have a seamless journey when traveling with us. If one of these groups were to misconnect, it might be harder to reaccommodate them as there likely wouldn’t be enough available seats on the next flight, unlike when we have individual travelers and smaller parties to reaccommodate. The first order of business is alerting our airport teams that these groups are coming through to make sure we have a plan for them. Sometimes we’ll hold their connecting flight, and we’ve even found back-up aircraft for these groups because they’re such a big part of our operation.
Kim: Military service members are also incredibly important to us. We work to ensure that our service members have as easy and smooth a journey as possible. We look at markets that have military bases or are close to them — we have many of them — and keep an especially close eye on those markets, going out of our way to ensure there are crew and aircraft to support the operation there. We develop a plan B as well. I’m glad the SCSM team gets to play a role with caring for our troops.
Daniel: SCSMs play a key role in the recovery of our network during what we call irregular operations — severe weather or any other type of event that disrupts the airline. We’re responsible for running a tool that helps reaccommodate our customers on alternate flights when their travel plans are impacted. American has gotten much faster at recovering, and I’m proud to say that the SCSM team plays an important role as we care for customers who are impacted.
I’m sure you have some incredible stories to tell about other ways we’ve helped our customers in the 17 years you’ve worked here.
Kim Burrell working in the IOC’s regional unit.
Kim: You bet! One time, we had a group of 40 customers who were originating in Knoxville, Tennessee, connecting through DFW on their way to Honduras, and I realized that they were going to misconnect. After I worked with the station and my colleagues in the IOC, we found a solution to use a larger aircraft for the next flight. The airport let me know that the customers were very excited that they were able to get to their destination within a reasonable amount of time. For me, it was a reminder of why I do this. I genuinely care about our customers and want to find solutions.
“It was a reminder of why I do this. I genuinely care about our customers and want to find solutions.”Kim Burrell
Daniel: One of my favorite stories is when we had a high-volume connection, which means we have a large number of customers traveling between cities. This one was between Oklahoma City and Hanoi, Vietnam, with a connection in Chicago. When their initial flight was delayed, we found another aircraft from one of our regional partners to get this group to Chicago, where they connected to one of our oneworld® partners. The SCSM team coordinates within and outside of the IOC to ensure our customers are looked after, no matter who operates the flight. It felt great to help these customers out.
Kim: It’s really the best part of the job. And we do it every day because when you purchase a ticket on American, you place your trust in us to get you to your destination safely and as efficiently as possible.
American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ: AAL) today reported its first-quarter 2024 financial results, including:
Record first-quarter revenue of approximately $12.6 billion.
First-quarter net loss of $312 million, or ($0.48) per diluted share. Excluding net special items1, first-quarter net loss of $226 million, or ($0.34) per diluted share.
Generated operating cash flow of $2.2 billion and free cash flow2 of $1.4 billion in the first quarter.
Reduced total debt3 by nearly $950 million in the first quarter. The company is now more than 80% of the way to its 2025 total debt reduction goal.
“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.”
Resources
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 debt3 by nearly $950 million and has now achieved more than $12 billion, or over 80%, of its goal of reducing total debt3 by $15 billion by the end of 2025.
Guidance and investor update
Based on present demand trends and the current fuel price forecast and excluding the impact of special items, the company expects its second-quarter 2024 adjusted earnings per diluted share4 to be between $1.15 and $1.45. The company continues to expect its full-year adjusted earnings per diluted share4 to be between $2.25 and $3.25.
Notes
See the accompanying notes in the financial tables section of this press release for further explanation, including a reconciliation of all GAAP to non-GAAP financial information and the calculation of free cash flow.
The company recognized $86 million of net special items in the first quarter after the effect of taxes, which included operating net special items of $70 million, principally related to one-time charges resulting from the ratification of a new collective bargaining agreement for its passenger service team members represented by the CWA-IBT, as well as nonoperating net special items of $46 million for charges associated with mark-to-market net unrealized losses on certain equity investments.
Please see the accompanying notes for the company’s definition of free cash flow, which is a non-GAAP measure.
All references to total debt include debt, finance and operating lease liabilities and pension obligations.
Adjusted earnings per diluted share guidance excludes the impact of net special items. The company is unable to reconcile certain forward-looking information to GAAP as the nature or amount of net special items cannot be determined at this time.
American AIrlines aircraft photo gallery (Boeing):
American launches airline’s first-ever rotating collection of premium onboard amenities, along with new bedding.
Throughout the year, new inflight amenities will feature diverse designers and brands, sustainably sourced materials and causes important to American and its customers.
Customers can indulge in fresh entrees, inspired by popular American Airlines destinations, across all domestic and international flights.
AAdvantage® members can continue to earn or use miles for flights with these premium experiences.
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 specialty kits created in collaboration with diverse designers and brands based primarily in the U.S. Through the designs of these specialty 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 specialty 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. Travelers will be able to learn about each brand and partner featured in the specialty kit by scanning a QR code found within the kit.
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, travelers shared that 75% prefer dual-sided pillows, with different materials on each side of the pillow. Based on this feedback, customers traveling 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.
Those traveling in Flagship® First Class on international flights will continue to enjoy a set of pajamas, based on feedback that 80% of first class customers value having pajamas onboard. In addition, travelers in Flagship® Business Class on all international flights will now enjoy slippers onboard, instead of only on ultra long-haul flights.
Customers in all cabins, including Premium Economy and Main Cabin, will enjoy enhanced bedding, with cabin-specific options such as lumbar pillows, throw blankets, premium duvets and fleece blankets — all developed from premium brands that are leaders in their space.
American collaborated with the inflight textile company John Horsfall to develop bedding made with recycled materials from their Re-Thread® collection*.
Reusable Zipper Product Bag
Bedding in American Airlines Flagship® First
Bedding in American Airlines Flagship® Business
Bedding in American Airlines Premium Economy
Bedding in American Airlines Main Cabin
Bedding in American Airlines Transcontinental Flagship® First Class
Bedding in American Airlines Transcontinental Flagship® Business Class
Nearly all of the pillows, duvets and blankets created for American flights were made with recycled fibers that maintain a premium feel, while filled bedding includes 100% recycled fill. To reduce single-use plastic waste connected to the distribution of pillows and blankets, customers traveling in Flagship® First, Flagship® Business and Premium Economy will now receive their bedding in a reusable zipper product bag also made with recycled fibers. Using the bag will save 25 tons of plastic waste a year.
New dining menus soar within the U.S. and beyond
While dining on board, customers can embrace the journey with diverse flavors and new menus that are inspired by popular American Airlines destinations worldwide. The offerings feature internationally inspired pastas, salads and more.
Travelers jet-setting to one of American’s new summer destinations like Nice, France; Naples, Italy; or Copenhagen, Denmark, will be able to relish delicious offerings like macadamia crusted sea bass with citrus cream sauce, quinoa, toasted orzo, and haricots verts. In addition to these offerings, pan roasted chicken, tortellini pasta and other offerings, including new pre-order options, will continue to roll out this spring for business class on flights from the U.S. to international destinations.
Customers traveling from Europe in business class can choose to indulge in menu items like chili marinated chicken with mojo verde sauce, sweet potato mash, roasted corn and mini chili or gnocchi duet with plain and beetroot gnocchi, lentil ragout, apple chutney, brown butter, roasted spring onion and sliced green onion.
Entrees: International US outbound Business Class entrees on American Airlines From left: Pan roasted chicken with pepperonata sauce, mashed potato with chives and broccolini. Macadamia crusted sea bass with lemon herb butter sauce, orzo salad haricot vert and red bell pepper. Tortellini in sauteed spinach with blushed tomato sauce and grilled zucchini and mushroom medley.
Customers traveling on domestic first class can also discover new offerings on their journey. Travelers can enjoy cuisine such as shawarma seasoned grilled chicken, three cheese sacchetti pasta, chicken enchiladas or a plant based stuffed red pepper. Customers can also choose from new pre-order options, including short rib mac and cheese.
These new options in premium cabins will provide a range of diverse culinary creations and award-winning wines. For AAdvantage® members, miles and status can help unlock access to some of these premium inflight experiences.
Domestic First Class hot entrees on American Airlines Clockwise from top left: Vegetable enchilada with red rice and green chili sauce, garnished with crumbled cotija cheese. Cheese sacchetti with garlic cream sauce and marinara sauce, topped with a chopped parsley garnish. Penne pasta with plant-based meat ragu and ricotta, garnished with chopped parsley. Stuffed pepper, green rice and cilantro crema, garnished with crumbled cotija cheese.
Domestic First Class cold entrees on American Airlines Clockwise from top left: The Mediterranean bowl with garlic aioli dressing, couscous spiced with potatoes, almonds, baby arugula, shaved red cabbage, roasted red pepper hummus, tomato & cucumber salad and roasted spiced cauliflower. The bistro grain bowl with red long grain rice, crumbled blue cheese, fresh cucumber, Roma tomato, red onion, green scallion, hard-boiled egg, sorghum and Frisée and Mesclun salad mix. The pesto pasta salad with baby arugula, pesto salad, red and yellow blistered cherry tomatoes, red pepper, sliced mozzarella, and a nut-free basil pesto sauce. The edamame and mandarin orange slaw salad with baby spinach, wonton strips, roasted cashews, green scallion and red miso vinaigrette
Suite experience
Beyond the new inflight amenities, bedding and dining options on board this summer, customers can look forward to an even more elevated experience onboard future Boeing 787-9, 777-300 and Airbus A321XLR aircraft, featuring a new interior with the Flagship® Suite seat and refreshed seats and amenities across Premium Economy and Main Cabin.
Customers traveling in the Flagship Suite® seat will be surrounded by comfort and convenience including wireless charging, Bluetooth capability and multiple storage spaces. With standard features such as lie-flat seats and direct-aisle access, American has modernized the experience by adding privacy doors and the ability to relax in a chaise lounge position, making the Flagship Suite® seat a personalized experience in the skies.
American Airlines Flagship® Suite Preferred seat
American Airlines Flagship® Suite Preferred seat
Customers looking for even more luxury will be able to further enhance their experience with a distinguished front row experience on new Boeing 787-9 and retrofitted 777-300 aircraft through the Flagship Suite® Preferred seat. This seat will offer customers expansive space, several storage areas and exclusive amenities like a Nest Bedding® mattress pad, a throw blanket, a memory foam lumbar pillow, Nest Bedding® pajamas and an exclusive amenity kit featuring additional skincare products from Thirteen Lune by Joanna Vargas and Relevant.
For AAdvantage® members, using miles can help unlock access to upgrade into these enhanced premium experiences, including new inflight amenities, sleepwear, bedding and dining options.
Status members may also receive complimentary upgrades, further enhancing their premium travel experience.
The program rewards members for the time they spend with American, and also provides them with rewards and benefits. New in time for summer, members traveling on tickets purchased with miles can now receive upgrade offers to buy into a higher cabin via aa.com or mobile app when traveling within the contiguous U.S.
*Re-Thread® products are made with certified materials.
American Airlines aircraft photo gallery (Airbus):
New premium seats will be available on the airline’s long-haul fleet starting in 2024
Flagship Suite® seats, featuring privacy doors, will be included on all Airbus A321XLR and Boeing 787-9 deliveries beginning in 2024.
American will refresh its Boeing 777-300ER fleet with a new luxurious interior, elevating the inflight customer experience on long-haul international routes.
Premium seating in American’s long-haul fleet will grow more than 45 percent by 2026.
From thoughtfully redesigned lounges to the stylish aircraft interior and enhanced inflight service, customers will have a true premium experience with American.
American Airlines is giving customers a suite new ride. With new deliveries of its Airbus A321XLR and Boeing 787-9 aircraft, beginning in 2024, the airline will unveil new Flagship Suite® premium seating and a reimagined aircraft interior for its long-haul fleet. Flagship Suite® seats will offer customers a private premium experience with a privacy door, a chaise lounge seating option and more personal storage space. Customers will enjoy tailored luxury in their private retreat in the sky in American’s premium cabin.
American was the first U.S. airline to debut long-haul Premium Economy seats in 2016, and in response to customer demand, the airline is adding even more Premium Economy seats to its long-haul aircraft. The new custom-designed Premium Economy seat creates more privacy and doubles the amount of in-seat storage space.
With the introduction of new interiors on its long-haul aircraft, premium seating on American’s long-haul fleet will grow more than 45 percent by 2026. American’s Boeing 787-9 aircraft will have 51 Flagship Suite® seats and 32 Premium Economy seats, and the airline’s Airbus A321XLR aircraft will feature 20 Flagship Suite® seats and 12 Premium Economy seats.
Members of American’s award-winning AAdvantage® loyalty program can earn miles through everyday activities such as shopping and dining that they can use for award tickets to experience American’s new Flagship Suite® seats when it debuts in 2024.
Refreshing existing aircraft
American will also be retrofitting its aircraft, the Boeing 777-300ER, to include Flagship Suite® seats . These 20 aircraft will be refreshed with the new interiors starting in late 2024. American’s aircraft will feature more premium seats than its current design, with 70 Flagship Suite® seats and 44 Premium Economy seats.
American will also retrofit its Airbus A321T fleet to align those 16 aircraft with the rest of its A321 fleet. American will continue to offer lie-flat seats on its transcontinental routes departing New York and Boston along with its Northeast Alliance partner, JetBlue Airways, providing travelers with a premium experience and the opportunity to arrive refreshed after a cross country flight.
The Premium Economy seats on the Airbus A321XLR feature headrest wings for increased privacy.
The entry to the Boeing 787-9 features a panel illuminated by American’s Flight Symbol with thin red line accents, affirming the customers’ experience.
The Boeing 787-9 will have 51 Flagship Suite® seats — 21 more than the current Boeing 787-9 that American has in its fleet.
Customers will be surrounded with comfort and expansive personal surface and storage areas that they can utilize to fit their personal needs in the Boeing 787-9 Flagship Suite.
Customers traveling together who want to dine together or share their personal space can do so in the Flagship Suite on the Boeing 787-9.
The Boeing 787-9 will feature 32 Premium Economy seats — 11 more than the current Boeing 787-9 in American’s fleet.
The Boeing 787-9 Premium Economy seats feature headrest wings to increase privacy and larger inseat entertainment screens.
The Flagship Suite on the Boeing 787-9 offers more comfort with lie-flat seating and can also convert to a chaise lounge position.
The Airbus A321XLR will have 20 Flagship Suite® seats when it is delivered in 2024.
The Flagship Suite on the Airbus A321XLR will provide customers with a private inflight experience.
The Airbus A321XLR will feature 12 Premium Economy seats.
The Premium Economy seats on the Airbus A321XLR feature headrest wings for increased privacy.
The entry to the Boeing 787-9 features a panel illuminated by American’s Flight Symbol with thin red line accents, affirming the customers’ experience.
American Airlines is celebrating 80 years of service to Mexico this month. In 1942, the airline launched service from Dallas to Mexico City with a Douglas DC-3 aircraft, first stopping in Monterrey to refuel. With this flight, Mexico became the airline’s second international destination, following the launch of Toronto, Canada, in 1941.
“As the leading U.S. airline in Mexico, we are proud to celebrate 80 years of connecting our two countries, offering our customers an unbeatable network and the highest level of service,” said José A. Freig, Vice President of International. “It’s important we recognize and thank our Mexico-based team members for their outstanding work leading American’s largest international operation during a year of record growth for us in the country.”
Strengthening our footprint in Mexico
Mexico is American’s largest international destination, where the airline operates more than 500 weekly flights to 27 cities: Acapulco, Aguascalientes, Cancún, Chihuahua, Mexico City, Cozumel, Culiacan, Durango, Guadalajara, Hermosillo, Huatulco, La Paz, León, Loreto, Mazatlán, Mérida, Monterrey, Morelia, Oaxaca, Puerto Vallarta, Querétaro, San José del Cabo, San Luis Potosi, Torreon, Zacatecas, as well as seasonal service to Zihuatanejo and Manzanillo.
American has more than 1,100 team members based in Mexico, the largest number of employees outside of the United States. The operation includes two Reservations offices in Mexico City and Monterrey, four Ticket Sales Centers in Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara and León, and an Admirals Club at Benito Juárez International Airport in Mexico City.
2022: A banner year
In 2022, American has had record growth in Mexico with a more than 40% increase in capacity compared to 2019. In addition to operating more strategic routes with larger aircraft, the airline has also launched new flying, such as Austin to Cozumel, and, beginning in November, new service from Mexico City and Monterrey to New York.
American Airlines aircraft photo gallery (historic):
Air Wisconsin Airlines is switching sides again. The company is dropping United Airlines as an United Express carrier and will go back to American Airlines as an American Eagle carrier.
The move will take no longer than March 2023.
Derek Kerr of American Airlines wrote in an internal memo:
“We’re taking another important step to strengthen our network by welcoming Air Wisconsin Airlines to the American Eagle portfolio of regional airline partners,”
“Air Wisconsin’s fleet of up to 60 Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft will start to enter service no later than March 2023, with most of the flying focused on connecting customers to our Chicago O’Hare hub,”
Air Wisconsin operated as an American Eagle carrier from 2015 to February 14, 2018.
Air Wisconsin currently operates as an United Express carrier with crew bases in Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and Milwaukee (MKE).
The company is also celebrating its 57th anniversary.
United Express-Air Wisconsin aircraft photo gallery:
American Eagle-Air Wisconsin aircraft photo gallery:
American Airlines hosted the Bessie Coleman Aviation All-Stars tour to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first Black woman to earn a pilot’s license in 1921. She bravely broke down barriers within the world of aviation and paved the path for many to follow.
To honor her legacy, American hosted Gigi Coleman, Bessie’s great niece, on a flight from Dallas-Fort Worth to Phoenix. The flight was operated by an all-Black Female crew — from the pilots and Flight Attendants to the Cargo team members and the aviation maintenance technician.
American is being intentional in its efforts to diversify the flight deck. Black women have been notably underrepresented in the aviation industry, especially as pilots, representing less than 1% in the commercial airline industry. Through the American Airlines Cadet Academy, the airline is committed to expanding awareness of and increasing accessibility to the pilot career within diverse communities.
The historic flight crew
Beth Powell
Pilot, Boeing 737 Captain
Charlene Shortte
Pilot, Boeing 737 First Officer
Cheryl Gaymon
Flight Attendant
Mary Roberson
Flight Attendant
Vanessa Bennett
Flight Attendant
Breana James
Flight Attendant
Sharron Brooks
Ramp Crew Chief
Nicole White
Ramp Crew Chief
Maya Matthews
Fleet Service Agent
Natasha Williams
Fleet Service Agent
Alisha Bates
Fleet Service Agent
Patricia Milfort
Manager on Duty, Customer Operations
Tracy Brown
Customer Service Agent
Arlene Law
Customer Service Coordinator
Lynette Daniels Moody
Customer Service Coordinator
VAS Aero Services, a global leader in aviation logistics and aftermarket services, announced it has acquired four Airbus A330-300 airframes and 11 Pratt & Whitney PW4168 engines from Fort Worth, TX-based American Airlines, the largest commercial air carrier in the US.
The four Airbus A330-300 widebody aircraft were retired from American’s fleet in 2020. Adding to the breadth and depth of VAS’s already significant aftermarket parts inventory, the airframes will be allocated for teardown and the surplus parts distributed through VAS’s worldwide airline operator customer base.
The Pratt & Whitney PW4168 engines will be placed with VAS’s aftermarket services partner, SR Technics, for engine lease pool support and ultimately disassembled to increase their Used Serviceable Material (USM) availability. The addition of the PW engines further strengthens VAS’s Supply Program with SR Technics and offers major end users favorable green-time leasing options and vital USM solutions.
Anyone can dream they can fly, but only a select few make it happen. That’s exactly what two American Airlines Cadet Academy graduates did. And, they made history along the way.
Blazing trails
As graduates of the Cadet Academy, Keith Taylor and Damion Washington continue American’s legacy of firsts by becoming the first graduates of a legacy carrier’s pilot training program to make it to the mainline flight deck as first officers. Both began their aviator journeys at the Cadet Academy, completing their flight training, building their hours, and flying for one of American’s wholly owned carriers — Envoy. They now will join American’s flight deck as mainline first officers.
Keith said his love of flying began as a kid watching planes take off and land at Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. Flying by age 13, he continued to gain hours throughout college while pursuing a double major in Aviation and Political Science, and eventually a Masters in Business Administration, at Jacksonville University in Florida.
Keith said he thought he would train to fly in the military, but life took him on another path. Living in Los Angeles in 2018, Keith was working in the aviation industry but knew he should be in the sky and not on the ground. When one of Keith’s friends, who was also pursuing her dream of becoming a pilot, sent him information about the recently launched American Airlines Cadet Academy, he knew it was a sign to pursue his dream.
“It was everything I needed,” said Keith. “The Cadet Academy offered financing, the connection to American Airlines — which was who I had always wanted to fly for — and pilot mentoring.”
Keith was accepted as a member of the first ever Cadet Academy class and started the program in August 2018, graduated in February 2020 and started flying for Envoy the very next month.
“Receiving the job offer from American Airlines is truly something I will never forget,” Keith said. “It still doesn’t seem real. I’m so excited to fly for American and I plan to continue mentoring and supporting future aviators. It’s our job as cadets to leave the program better than we found it and I will continue to support the Cadet Academy for all it’s done for me.”
Like Keith, Damion’s love for aviation started early. He grew up listening to the stories of his grandfather, who was the first Black private pilot in Arkansas. At that time, Damion’s grandfather wasn’t able to fly commercially, but Damion could see his future. The seed of one day flying as a commercial pilot was planted.
“At that time, I didn’t know how to become a pilot,” he said. “We weren’t in those circles, so it just seemed out of reach for me.”
He went on to pursue other dreams and became a pastor. “As a pastor, I was telling people to pursue their dreams using all their gifts and talents and I realized that there was a big dream I had yet to pursue for myself,” he said.
“To those considering or those in the process of becoming a professional aviator, continue to pursue, continue to push through any barriers that may be holding you back, because today, I can tell you it’s so worth it to reach your dream.”— First Officer Damion Washington
So he decided to change that. Damion applied to and was accepted into the Cadet Academy in the same 2018 class. He started with zero flight hours, but he had the determination and the support of his family to fulfill a lifelong dream.
“Becoming a pilot and joining American is a dream come true. I’ve always seen American as the biggest, the best, and the airline with the greatest history,” Damion said. “It’s been a challenging road with a lot of hard work and sacrifice from my family to get here. To those considering or those in the process of becoming a professional aviator, continue to pursue and push through any barriers that may be holding you back because today, I can tell you, it’s so worth it to reach your dream.”
Keith and Damion received their job offers from American at the recent Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals 46th annual conference. They were joined by another legend, Capt. Dave Harris, the first black pilot for a major passenger airline hired by American in 1964. Together, these three professional aviators are trailblazers and a testament to the power of perseverance and dedication.
Looking forward
American’s charge of turning aviators’ dreams into a reality is real, with its plan to hire 4,000 pilots by the end of 2023. American has a mission to bridge the gap between a future pilot’s dreams and reality by connecting them with flight schools and eliminating the financial barriers that prospective pilots face.
Through its Cadet Academy, American provides a structured platform that involves financing, training, and ongoing support while creating greater diversity among the current and future pilot ranks. With nearly 600 cadets in the program today — and many graduates already working in the flight deck — American continues to grow the program, significantly impacting the diverse makeup of flight crews industrywide.
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