American Airlines Cargo is reflecting on more than 80 years of service to customers around the world as it celebrates its centennial year and marks 100 years since its first mail flight in 1926.
The began formally on October 15, 1944, when a DC-3 carrying more than 6,000lbs of freight completed the world’s first scheduled air cargo flight between New York City and Burbank, California. But long before that historic 19-hour flight, the airline’s predecessors were flying airmail routes, including flights by transatlantic pioneer pilot Charles Lindbergh between Chicago and St. Louis.
In the 1940s, American became the first airline with dedicated cargo terminals, which allowed raised platform loading and more efficient freight movement at airports. American introduced the first coast-to-coast all cargo flight, the first air freight loading conveyors and the first corrugated shipping container created specifically for apparel. In 1954, the company introduced the first Unit Load Device in the industry, the Paul Bunyan Box. By the 1960s, American’s innovations continued with the Astroloader, the first powered cargo loader for the Boeing 707, and the Astroroller, the first in plane roller system designed to increase speed and safety in cargo loading.
In the 1950s, American designed the first standardized animal container and it has long been recognized for its care, expertise and commitment to safely moving animals across its network.
These early milestones were accompanied by remarkable shipments that became part of the company’s culture. During the 1970s, American’s 747 freighter transported a San Francisco cable car to New York City for a street fair. It helped museums move priceless objects, including artifacts from Tutankhamun’s tomb that were flown to Dallas for a major exhibition. The company also deepened its support of the cold chain pharmaceutical industry, carrying delicate vaccines and treatments that rely on precise temperature control and rapid delivery.
American’s role in supporting communities continued through the decades. After Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico in 2017, it was among the first to land on the island with critical supplies, including food, water and generators. Through its partnership with Airlink, it has supported shipments to Ukraine, Haiti, Maui, Brazil, Jamaica and many other regions.
In 2025, the cargo organization delivered one of its strongest operational performances, moving more than 475 million kilograms of freight and mail across its network.
At London Heathrow, it moved into a new, larger 120,000sq ft cargo facility that nearly doubled its previous capacity. Today, it operates one of the youngest fleets in the United States, with modern Boeing 787 aircraft with a schedule that includes 186 daily international widebody flights during peak summer periods and more than 4,000 monthly widebody flights between the US and Europe.
Enhancements to digital booking emphasize transparency, ease of doing business and operational efficiency. American Airlines Cargo has also developed a focused artificial intelligence strategy, applying AI in high impact areas across the cargo journey to improve decision making and customer outcomes.
