American Airlines formally kicked off its centennial celebrations on January 5, 2026, marking 100 years since the carrier completed its first airmail flight between Chicago and St. Louis in 1926. The milestone places American among a small group of global airlines that have operated continuously for a century or longer, a rarity in an industry shaped by consolidation, bankruptcies, and repeated economic shocks.
The airline plans to mark the anniversary throughout 2026 with a series of customer-facing updates spanning aircraft liveries, onboard products, digital platforms, and historical storytelling. The effort is designed to acknowledge American’s past while reinforcing its long-term strategy at a time of intensifying competition among US and international carriers.
A central visual element of the campaign is a special centennial livery that will debut later this month on a Boeing 737, one of the workhorses of American’s domestic and short-haul international network. The design incorporates silver tones and an infinity-inspired motif near the aft fuselage, intended to reference both the airline’s heritage and its future direction. Additional aircraft will receive centennial decals over time, extending the branding across a fleet of more than 1,500 airplanes.
Passengers will also begin seeing centennial branding integrated into the travel experience, including online booking sites, airport signage, inflight entertainment systems, and limited-edition merchandise. American has launched a dedicated centennial website highlighting milestones from its first century, including the evolution from mail carrier to global airline, the introduction of its AAdvantage loyalty program, and the development of premium cabin products such as Flagship Suite seats.
Onboard, American plans to roll out limited-time centennial touches during the year, including commemorative amenity kits, specialty inflight dining items, and pajamas on select long-haul routes. Citi-issued AAdvantage credit cards are also receiving a temporary centennial design for new and reissued cards.
Chief Executive Officer Robert Isom said the centennial reflects the airline’s history of adaptation and innovation rather than a single moment in time. “American is proud to be among the small group of airlines that have celebrated 100 years of flight,” Isom said in a statement, adding that the company aims to carry that legacy forward for customers and employees.
The centennial celebration underscores how few airlines founded in the early days of commercial aviation remain. American’s survival through the Great Depression, world war, deregulation, fuel crises, mergers, and the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the airline’s staying power.
While the campaign leans heavily on heritage, it coincides with ongoing fleet renewal, network adjustments, and investments in premium products and digital tools. American concedes that the centennial functions less as a retrospective and more as a statement of continuity, signaling that the airline intends to remain a central player in global aviation well into its second century.