American Airlines defended its pilot upgrade policy after a passenger criticized a uniformed pilot in first class. Under the 2023 pilot contract, deadheading pilots move to the top of the upgrade list at check-in. The rule has renewed debate over elite status, rest rules, and how American compares with Delta and United.
American Airlines
American Airlines flight attendant Carol Fair, 83, will retire on October 26, 2026, after 63½ years. Her last flight, from London to Charlotte, recalls the Piedmont Airlines service she worked on in 1987.
American Airlines adds five Airbus jets and two Boeing 777s, updating its 365-aircraft delivery backlog and fleet plans.
An American Airlines Boeing 787 pilot says he left a job paying more than $300,000 a year after commuting, overnight flights and recovery time affected his quality of life. Despite valuable seniority and strong compensation, he chose law enforcement aviation and believes a different aircraft assignment might have offered a better work-life balance.
American Airlines Flight AA339 returned to Miami International Airport on October 22 after a passenger allegedly rushed toward flight attendants and made a threatening remark.
American Airlines has agreed to pay flight attendants up to $169 per Heathrow flight sequence following a catering disruption that began in February 2026.
An American Airlines (AA) Boeing 787 arriving from Barcelona experienced a tire blowout after landing at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), prompting a federal investigation into a reported brake problem.
American Airlines has reached a confidential settlement with the family of an 11-year-old girl who was secretly filmed by former flight attendant Estes Carter Thompson III in August 2023. The proposed agreement follows a negligence lawsuit, while Thompson is serving an 18-and-a-half-year federal prison sentence.
American Airlines could order up to 70 widebody aircraft from 2030 onward, with Boeing 787s and Airbus A350s among the reported candidates. The decision could shape its business-class strategy, future fleet requirements and Pacific network.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby told The New York Times that his 2016 exit as American Airlines President felt like a betrayal. He left with about $13 million and lifetime travel benefits, joined United the same year, and became CEO in 2020. The article also covers United’s safety and training plans, merger speculation with American, and engine supply strains.