1930: American Airways is incorporated, including several small airmail contractors. Becomes American Airlines Inc. in 1934.
1939: American Airlines began trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
1942: American starts a catering business, Sky Chefs, for passenger meals.
1948: Coach service is introduced as an economical alternative.
1957: The American Airlines Stewardess College opens offering the world's first flight attendant training.
1959: American offers the first nonstop, coast-to-coast service, with the Boeing 707.
1970: American gets its first Caribbean routes by buying Trans Caribbean Airways.
1979: Airline undertakes major route expansion after de-regulation of the industry, moves headquarters from New York to Fort Worth, Texas.
1981: American introduces AAdvantage, the first frequent-flier program.
1982: The current AMR Corp. is formed.
Jan. 2001: American says it will buy the assets of Trans World Airlines (TWA).
Sept. 11, 2001: Terrorist attacks include crashes of two American Airlines jets. A sharp travel downturn begins, eventually leading other major carriers to file for bankruptcy court protection.
2003: American narrowly avoids bankruptcy after workers agree to sharp pay cuts.
Nov. 29, 2011: American Airlines and parent AMR Corp. file for bankruptcy protection.
Source: American Airlines, AP archives.
