American Airlines Earns Prestigious Diversity Award; Black Enterprise Names Airline Among '40 Best Companies for Diversity'

FORT WORTH, Texas, June 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- American Airlines today was named one of Black Enterprise (BE) magazine's "40 Best Companies for Diversity." The award was announced today with the release of the publication's July 2006 issue, which features its second annual list of the best companies for diversity as the cover story.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060612/DAM023 )

In selecting the 40 Best Companies for Diversity, BE evaluated diversity programs, consulted with diversity experts and corporate diversity officers, and conducted an extensive survey of more than 1,000 of the country's largest publicly traded companies, and more than 50 leading global companies with significant U.S. operations.

"The BE 40 Best Companies for Diversity truly understand how critically valuable a diverse workforce and inclusive business practices are to the success of their operations," said Black Enterprise President and CEO Butch Graves. "These companies are setting the standard for corporate America, and it is our sincere hope that other companies will follow their lead and build businesses that are more reflective of the society in which we live."

"We are honored to be named among this elite group as one of the best in the area of diversity," said American's Debra Hunter Johnson, Vice President- Global Human Resources Services. "American is strengthened by diversity. We believe in a holistic approach to diversity and corporate citizenship that focuses on employees, our suppliers, our customers and the communities we serve. The innovation and creativity created by our diversity initiatives is transforming our company."

Diversity has long been an integral part of American Airlines. The company has developed a workforce that includes a rich mixture of cultures, experiences, and backgrounds, and it has been recognized for using these cultural differences in a way that advances the airline's business objectives. The company also extends its commitment to diversity to its vendor relationships. American, a founding member of the global oneworld(R) Alliance, goes beyond simply providing opportunities for diverse businesses. It also assists them in growing their companies. There are many examples of American's successful business relationships with minority businesses.

About American Airlines

American Airlines is the world's largest airline. American, American Eagle and the AmericanConnection(R) airlines serve 250 cities in over 40 countries with more than 3,900 daily flights. The combined network fleet numbers more than 1,000 aircraft. American's award-winning Web site, AA.com, provides users with easy access to check and book fares, plus personalized news, information and travel offers. American Airlines is a founding member of the oneworld(R) Alliance, which brings together some of the best and biggest names in the airline business, enabling them to offer their customers more services and benefits than any airline can provide on its own. Together, its members serve more than 600 destinations in over 135 countries and territories. American Airlines, Inc. and American Eagle Airlines, Inc. are subsidiaries of AMR Corporation . AmericanAirlines, American Eagle, the AmericanConnection(R) airlines, AA.com and AAdvantage are registered trademarks of American Airlines, Inc.

AmericanAirlines(R) We know why you fly(SM) Current AMR Corp. releases can be accessed on the Internet. The address is http://www.aa.com/ American Airlines Considered Among Best for Diversity Employee Diversity * American has been recognized for using the cultural differences among its employees in a way that advances the airline's business priorities while also developing employees' business and leadership skills. The company has 14 Employee Resource Groups that were originally created in 1993 and had been strongly focused on personal and professional development. The groups now are equally involved in enhancing the competitiveness of the airline in an increasingly diverse marketplace. * American is one of the few corporations to voluntarily form a Board of Directors Diversity Committee. AMR CEO Gerard Arpey and several members of the Board participate in diversity reviews quarterly. Community Support * American Airlines has a proud history of generous support to the communities it serves around the world. The company supports hundreds of charitable organizations and community events that support children, education, health and the arts, among many other causes. Minority Suppliers * American utilized nearly 275 minority/women suppliers in 2005. * American's Diversified Supplier Program was launched in 1989. To date, American has spent more than $2.7 billion with women and minority-owned businesses. * A number of items and services used by American Airlines are produced in part by minority and women suppliers. Examples include advertising, construction, food, fuel, furniture, investment advisory, IT services, janitorial, legal, office supplies, printing, security.