Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying
American Airlines
- IATA/ICAO Code
- AA/AAL
- Airline Type
- Full Service Carrier
- Hub(s)
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Miami International Airport, New York JFK Airport, LaGuardia Airport, Philadelphia International Airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
- Year Founded
- 1926
- Alliance
- oneworld
- CEO
- Robert Isom
- Country
- United States
American Airlines is celebrating its 40th anniversary of flying to London, having first started flying to the UK capital in May 1982. Let’s take a look at its operations in some more detail.
Forty years of American Airlines in London
Back in May 1982, American Airlines operated its first flight to London when it launched service between Dallas/Fort Worth Airport (DFW) and London Gatwick (LGW). The service was initially operated five times weekly with a Boeing 747.
These services have since been discontinued as the airline now flies from DFW to Heathrow instead, currently under flight numbers AA20, AA50, AA78, and AA80. Its oneworld partner British Airways also flies on this route under flight number BA192.
American Airlines did not actually start flying to Heathrow until 1991. Heathrow is now the only London airport that the airline flies to, although it also serves other London airports through its codeshare partners.
For example, it sells tickets for the London Gatwick – Dublin (DUB) route under flight number AA8055. This flight is operated by Aer Lingus. Back when British Airways used to operate its signature A318 all-Business route from London City (LCY) to New York (JFK) via Shannon (SNN), American Airlines used to codeshare on that too as flight AA6199.
British Airways and American Airlines both fly to Terminals 3 and…