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As American Airlines celebrates its 100th year of operation in 2026, the carrier announced today a significant donation to the Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM) in Chicago. The airline has provided a functional auxiliary power unit (APU) to the school to provide students with hands-on experience. This move is part of a larger effort to address the critical shortage of aviation maintenance technicians (AMTs) in the United States.
The donation coincides with American’s recent hiring of over 100 local aviation maintenance professionals for its Chicago O'Hare (ORD) line maintenance organization. With over 10,000 employees in the Chicagoland area, the airline is doubling down on its commitment to the Midwest hub. The "Forever Forward" spirit, as the airline calls it, is intended to bridge the gap between academic training and real-world airline operations.
The centennial year has been a period of reflection for the world's largest airline, which traces its roots back to an air mail carrier in 1926. Today, American operates more than 6,000 daily flights to 350 destinations. However, the future depends on a steady pipeline of skilled labor, which has been a pain point for the entire industry since the pandemic-induced early retirements of 2020.
By providing high-tech equipment like APUs to schools, American hopes to shorten the onboarding time for new mechanics. The airline is also expanding its digital wallet integration and "travel day" enhancements to improve customer experience simultaneously. These initiatives are being highlighted in a series of "centennial videos" being released throughout March.
American Airlines donated an auxiliary power unit (APU) to the Aviation Institute of Maintenance.
The airline is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2026 (founded 1926).
Over 100 new maintenance professionals were recently hired for the Chicago hub.
The initiative aims to solve the national shortage of aviation maintenance technicians.
American is the world's largest airline, operating over 6,000 daily flights.
HISTORY
American Airlines has a long history of industrial firsts, including the introduction of the first scheduled air cargo service and the first airline loyalty program. However, the last decade has been defined by its 2013 merger with US Airways and its subsequent struggle to modernize its fleet while managing massive debt loads.
2013: Completed merger with US Airways to become the world's largest carrier.
2023: American launched a major "Forever Forward" marketing and operational overhaul.
2024: The airline retired its last remaining older-generation regional jets in favor of newer E-175s.
2025: Achieved record passenger numbers, serving over 200 million customers annually.
2026 (Feb): Launched the "DCA Upgrade" project to transition to fully paperless cockpit operations.