As the world rings in the new year, American Airlines is celebrating a
milestone 100 years of flight in 2026. To bring the celebration to
life, customers will start to see special branding across the
airline’s fleet, including a special livery commemorating this
milestone anniversary taking flight later this month.
In 1926, the roots of modern-day American were sowed as a Robertson
Aircraft Corporation DH-4 took off from Chicago bound for St. Louis
with mail in tow. Just 10 years later, American became the first
airline to fly the Douglas DC-3 in commercial service between New York
and Chicago, beginning the airline’s trajectory toward the premium
global airline it is today.
Behind the design
The centennial livery utilizes the current livery design as a canvas
with commemorations to the airline’s 100-year brand and progress.
Evoking a sense of familiarity, the aircraft has been thoughtfully
layered with details telling a deeper story:
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Silver infinity rings: These striking visual rings
symbolize enduring legacy and infinite possibilities. The abstract
circular motion ties back to the infinity icon embedded in
American’s centennial logo.
-
Three shades of gray: Each ring is painted in a
different gray tone representing
our past, present and future. This gradient of
grays honors American’s history while embracing the future.
-
Mica finish: The rings shimmer with a
mica-infused finish, adding depth and brilliance.
This isn’t just aesthetic — it’s a tribute to the airline’s
illustrious heritage and premium experience,
catching the light like the polished aluminum of the early fleet but
with a modern twist. It’s a reminder that while styles evolve, the
spirit of American Airlines endures.
Meanwhile, the remainder of American’s fleet will include decals
commemorating the airline’s centennial at the boarding door. These
decals are already flying on some aircraft and will be applied across
the airline’s fleet of more than 1,500 aircraft.
The centennial livery joins the airline’s recently debuted Flagship DFW
aircraft in commemorating the milestone year. For collectors and
enthusiasts, scale aircraft models of both liveries are now available
for purchase.
Flagship DFW models
are available for preorder and will ship in February or March, and the
centennial livery model
is available to preorder with a June shipping date.