As American Airlines prepares for its centenary year in 2026, the Fort Worth-based US ‘big three’ legacy carrier and 
The striking new paint scheme retains the silver base that is currently found on most 
A Retro Look On A Modern Jet
The aircraft that American Airlines has chosen to showcase its Flagship centenary livery, as pictured above, is a 
It seems that American Airlines is expecting a quick turnaround as far as the new livery is concerned. Indeed, Flightradar24 shows that it is still in service, with a trip from Sao Paulo (GRU) to Miami (MIA) scheduled for tonight. Despite its busy schedule, American Airlines expects N735AT to be operating flights with the Flagship livery as soon as November. Ron DeFeo, American’s Chief Communications Officer, said:
“Our renewed focus on the customer experience is making premium travel better than ever. (…) Painting the original Flagship design on our Flagship aircraft is a powerful way to honor that legacy.”
The Lightning Bolt Motif Is Almost Nine Decades Old
The livery is a blend of the old and the new, with DeFeo adding that the design “evokes our rich history while looking ahead to our next 100 years.” While the Boeing 777 is the aircraft of choice in this instance, its features have appeared on several others before it, dating back nearly 90 years.
Indeed, as pictured above, American Airlines explains that the striking lightning bolt motif that will run along the length of N735AT’s fuselage as part of the carrier’s centenary celebrations was first worn by its Douglas DC-3 aircraft. This plane was a true 20th-century icon when it came to pioneering commercial aviation, and, much like the DC-3, AA will also rename N735AT after one of the cities it serves.
Specifically, the jet will bear the name ‘Flagship DFW’ as part of the repaint, with this designation paying tribute to the carrier’s Texan hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. As well as featuring the airline’s name and the word ‘Flagship’ as part of the design, the livery also includes a roundel logo towards the rear of the fuselage that depicts an eagle spreading its wings to connect to the rest of the world.
American Airlines Has Already Deployed A Similar Livery On A Boeing 737
Readers with a more intimate knowledge of American Airlines’ various special liveries over the years will be aware that the carrier has already deployed a similar paint scheme on a Boeing 737-800. Pictured above and known as ‘Astrojet,’ this design was devised in 2017, and stands out from the crowd thanks to its bare metal finish. Originally, this livery was used on aircraft from the Boeing 727 family in the 1960s.
However, N735AT’s centenary livery is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the makeover that it is being given in order to help AA mark its 100th anniversary. Indeed, the carrier explains that it will also “upgrade the aircraft to feature a new, more luxurious interior” to underline its Flagship status.
Last month also saw American Airlines kick off its centenary celebrations ahead of its 100th anniversary in 2026 with the unveiling of a new logo. This design features the number 100 with the carrier’s tail design linking the two zeros like an infinity sign, and it has also devised a promotional video.