American Airlines is the largest airline in the world based on fleet size and total passenger-miles transported. In August of 2008, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) levied $7.1 million in fines against American Airlines for violating safety and drug and alcohol testing regulations.http://www.cnn.com/2008/TRAVEL/08/14/american.airlines.faa/index.html

On August 24, 2009, American Airlines operated its last flight with an Airbus 300. The 300 was the first Airbus to operate in the United States and American Airlines is the last remaining Domestic operator.

On September 1, 2010, it was reported that American Airlines Mx was to be fined $24.2 million dollars by the FAA, the largest fine in history, for failing to comply with a 2006 Airworthiness Directive. The directive called for visual inspections no later than March 5, 2008, and in March and April of 2008, American was found to be in violation. The airline did begin grounding planes and corrected the problem in 2008. A spokesman for the airline indicated they planned to contest any civil penalties handed down by the FAA in 2010, two years after the incident.http://www.ainonline.com/news/single-news-page/article/american-airlines-mx-target-of-faas-largest-penalty-25949/

• 1930: Founded as American Airways
• 1934: Renamed American Air Lines
• 1977: Introduces Super Saver fares
• 1981: Launches industry's first frequent flyer program, AAdvantage
• 1981: Establishes Dallas/Forth Worth hub
• 1991: American flies its billionth passenger
• 1996: Introduces ticketless travel
• 2001: Flight 11 hijacked and flown into World Trade Center; Flight 77 hijacked and flown into Pentagon

• Southwest Airlines

• United Airlines

• Delta Airlines

• Continental Airlines

• Northwest Airlines

• US Airways

• JetBlue