American Airlines vs United Airlines: Founders, CEOs and History
American Airlines was founded in 1926 by Cyrus Rowlett Smith and is led by Robert Isom. United Airlines was founded in 1926 by Walter T. Varney, William Boeing and is led by Scott Kirby.
Company facts
American Airlines
- Founded
- 1926
- Headquarters
- Fort Worth, Texas
- Current CEO
- Robert Isom
- Employees
- 139,100
United Airlines
- Founded
- 1926
- Headquarters
- Chicago, Illinois
- Current CEO
- Scott Kirby
- Employees
- 113,200
Founders
American Airlines
Cyrus Rowlett Smith
American Airlines does not have a single founder in the traditional sense; rather it was forged through the aggressive consolidation of dozens of small, independent aviation companies in the late 1920s.
United Airlines
Walter T. Varney
Walter T. Varney founded Varney Air Lines, which won Contract Air Mail Route 5 and flew its first route between Pasco, Washington, and Elko, Nevada, via Boise, on April 6, 1926.
William Boeing
William Boeing formed Boeing Air Transport in 1927 to fly the Chicago-San Francisco air mail route and then, with Frederick Rentschler, created United Aircraft and Transport Corporation in 1929.
CEOs and their tenures
American Airlines
- Cyrus Rowlett Smith1934–1974
President and Chief Executive Officer
C.R. Smith was the founding architect of modern American Airlines, transforming a collection of struggling mail carriers into the world's preeminent domestic airline.
Source - Robert Crandall1985–1998
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Robert Crandall is widely regarded as one of the most innovative and controversial executives in U.S. Airline history.
Source - Donald Carty1998–2003
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Donald Carty was chairman and chief executive of AMR Corporation from 1998 to 2003. He bought the assets of bankrupt Trans World Airlines in 2001 for $742 million, adding a St.
Source - Gerard Arpey2003–2011
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Gerard Arpey became president and chief executive of AMR Corporation and American Airlines in April 2003, immediately after Donald Carty resigned, and led the company for eight years.
Source - Tom Horton2011–2013
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Tom Horton became chief executive of AMR Corporation on November 29, 2011, the day the board filed for Chapter 11 protection and Gerard Arpey stepped down.
Source - Doug Parker2013–2022
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Doug Parker orchestrated two of the most significant airline mergers in U.S. History first the America West-US Airways combination in 2005 and then the transformative AMR Corporation-US Airways merger that created American Airlines Group in 2013.
Source - Robert Isom2022–present
President and Chief Executive Officer
Robert Isom succeeded Doug Parker as chief executive on March 31, 2022, inheriting record pandemic-era debt.
Source
United Airlines
- Oscar Munoz2015–2020
Former CEO
Munoz handed over to Scott Kirby in May 2020 and served as executive chairman for a transition period.
Source - J. Scott Kirby2020–present
Chief Executive Officer
Under Kirby, United's revenue rose from $15.4 billion in 2020 to a record $59.1 billion in 2025, with premium cabins and MileagePlus as the main growth drivers.
Source
Timeline: American Airlines and United Airlines side by side
1926American Airlines
Robertson Aircraft Corporation Airmail Launch
Robertson Aircraft Corporation, a predecessor of American Airlines, flies its first airmail run on April 15, 1926, with Charles Lindbergh among its pilots on the Chicago to St. Louis route, the date American treats as its founding.
1926United Airlines
Varney Air Lines begins
United traces its roots to Varney Air Lines and early air mail service.
1931United Airlines
United Air Lines organized
United Air Lines was formed to manage airline subsidiaries tied to United Aircraft and Transport.
1934American Airlines
American Airlines Name Adopted and C.R. Smith Takes Command
After the Air Mail Scandal and President Roosevelt's temporary cancellation of mail contracts, the reorganized carrier adopts the name American Airlines and C.R. Smith becomes president, beginning a tenure that ran to 1968.
1936American Airlines
Douglas DC-3 Launch Customer
American Airlines puts the Douglas DC-3 into service after Smith pressed Donald Douglas to build a larger sleeper transport, producing the first airliner that could carry passengers profitably without mail subsidies.
1959American Airlines
First Transcontinental Jet Service
American Airlines flies the first scheduled transcontinental jet passenger service in the United States with the Boeing 707 on January 25, 1959, cutting coast-to-coast journey times sharply.
1964American Airlines
Sabre Reservation Network Completed
American Airlines and IBM complete the nationwide Sabre network, the Semi-Automated Business Research Environment, four years after the first installation on IBM 7090 computers.
1981American Airlines
AAdvantage Frequent-Flyer Program Launched
American Airlines launches AAdvantage on May 1, 1981, the first major airline frequent-flyer program, under then-president Robert Crandall. The program produced $7.5 billion of revenue in 2025.
1987American Airlines
AirCal Acquisition Completed
American Airlines completes the purchase of AirCal's parent, ACI Holdings, for $225 million and merges the California carrier's operations into its own on July 1, 1987, giving American a West Coast route network it had lacked.
1990American Airlines
Eastern Air Lines' Latin American Routes Acquired
American agrees in December 1989 to buy Eastern Air Lines' Central and South American routes and related assets for $471 million, a deal completed in 1990 that made Miami its gateway to Latin America.
1993American Airlines
Flight Attendants Strike for Five Days
The Association of Professional Flight Attendants, representing about 21,000 crew members, strikes from November 18, 1993, grounding much of the airline before both sides agree on November 22 to binding arbitration after President Bill Clinton intervened ahead…
1997United Airlines
Star Alliance founded
United became one of the founding members of Star Alliance.
1999American Airlines
Pilots Sickout Halts Flights and Draws Court Order
American's pilots stage a sickout in February 1999 in protest at the integration of Reno Air, which American had bought for $124 million. U.S.
2001American Airlines
September 11 Attacks and the Loss of Two American Aircraft
American Airlines Flight 11 and Flight 77 are among the four aircraft hijacked and crashed on September 11, 2001, killing everyone aboard and many on the ground, and triggering a collapse in air travel demand that pushed American close to bankruptcy.
2010United Airlines
Continental merger closes
UAL Corporation completed the Continental merger, later operating under the United brand.
2011American Airlines
AMR Corporation Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
AMR Corporation, American Airlines' parent, files for Chapter 11 protection on November 29, 2011, the last large U.S. network carrier to do so after the September 11 attacks, citing labor costs, fuel prices and a weakened balance sheet.
2013American Airlines
Merger with US Airways Creates the World's Largest Airline
American Airlines Group is formed in December 2013 by the merger of AMR Corporation and US Airways Group, in a transaction valued at about $11 billion, combining hubs at Dallas Fort Worth, Miami, Charlotte, Philadelphia, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Phoenix…
2015United Airlines
Oscar Munoz becomes CEO
Oscar Munoz became chief executive of United in September 2015.
2020American Airlines
COVID-19 Collapses Demand and Government Aid Is Secured
The COVID-19 pandemic cuts air travel demand sharply, and American accepts Payroll Support Program grants and loans under the CARES Act while raising billions in debt markets and retiring older aircraft types including the Boeing 757 and 767 and the Airbus A33…
2020United Airlines
Scott Kirby becomes CEO
Scott Kirby succeeded Oscar Munoz as CEO in May 2020.
2022American Airlines
Robert Isom Becomes Chief Executive
Robert Isom succeeds Doug Parker as chief executive of American Airlines Group on March 31, 2022, having been president since 2016, and sets debt reduction, operational reliability and loyalty monetization as priorities.
2025American Airlines
American Eagle Flight 5342 Midair Collision Near Reagan National
On January 29, 2025, a PSA Airlines CRJ700 operating American Eagle flight 5342 from Wichita collided with a U.S. Army UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
2025American Airlines
Flagship Suite and A321XLR Enter Service
American introduces the Flagship Suite seat in June 2025 on Boeing 787-9s and Airbus A321XLRs, takes delivery of 40 mainline aircraft during the year including five A321XLRs, and announces retrofits for its Boeing 777 and older Airbus narrow-body fleets.
2025United Airlines
Revenue reaches record level
United reported record 2025 total operating revenue of $59.1 billion.
2026American Airlines
Centennial Year and Exclusive Citi Co-Brand
American marks its centennial in 2026, the year Citibank becomes the exclusive issuer of the AAdvantage co-branded credit card portfolio in the United States under a 10-year agreement announced in December 2024.
2026United Airlines
Q2 2026 revenue up 16%
United reported Q2 2026 revenue of $17.7 billion and raised full-year adjusted EPS guidance to $9-$11 despite nearly $6 billion in added fuel costs.
Acquisitions
American Airlines
- US Airways Group2013$11B
- TWA Assets (Selected Routes and Slots)2001$742M
- Reno Air1998$124M
- Eastern Air Lines' Central and South American routes1990$471M
- ACI Holdings (AirCal)1987$225M
Questions about American Airlines vs United Airlines
Who is the CEO of American Airlines Group and United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?
American Airlines Group is led by Robert Isom and United Airlines Holdings, Inc. is led by Scott Kirby. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was American Airlines Group founded vs United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?
Both American Airlines Group and United Airlines Holdings, Inc. were founded in 1926, making them the same age.
How many employees does American Airlines Group have compared to United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?
American Airlines Group employs approximately 139,100 people, while United Airlines Holdings, Inc. employs approximately 113,200. American Airlines Group has the larger workforce at 139,100 employees, compared to United Airlines Holdings, Inc.'s 113,200. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are American Airlines Group and United Airlines Holdings, Inc. headquartered?
Both American Airlines Group and United Airlines Holdings, Inc. are headquartered in United States, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded American Airlines Group and United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?
American Airlines Group was founded by Cyrus Rowlett Smith. United Airlines Holdings, Inc. was founded by Walter T. Varney, William Boeing.
Which company has a longer operating history — American Airlines Group or United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?
American Airlines Group has been operating for approximately 100 years, making it the more established of the two companies. United Airlines Holdings, Inc. has been in operation for around 100 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the American Airlines vs United Airlines overview