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On October 29, 1955, Trans World Airlines (TWA), which was later acquired by American Airlines, launched the first passenger flight from the newly opened Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD). The inaugural journey, TWA flight TW 94 bound for Paris, marked the beginning of the airport’s rise as one of the world’s leading aviation hubs.
To commemorate the milestone, American Airlines partnered with the City of Chicago to reenact that historic moment this week. The airline celebrated the 70th anniversary by returning a TWA heritage livery aircraft to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and operating a special commemorative flight (American flight AA 2743) on a Boeing 737-800 featuring the retro design. Passengers were welcomed with a festive gate celebration and a ceremonial water cannon salute.
Adding to the nostalgia, American’s Astrojet heritage livery aircraft also passed through the airport to honor the jet age of the 1950s when Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) first took flight as a modern aviation hub.
Following the airport’s dedication ceremony in 1955, American Airlines quickly established itself as a pioneer in Chicago’s aviation story. On October 30, 1955, American operated both the airport’s first scheduled arrival and departure with flights AA 715 from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) and AA 566 to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG).
At the time, American operated up to 16 daily flights, a remarkable achievement for a newly opened airport. Today, that number has grown exponentially, with more than 500 daily departures planned for summer 2026 (a 3,000% increase since those early days).
This milestone also coincides with American’s upcoming centennial celebration, marking 100 years since its first-ever flight in 1926, when a single aircraft carried US mail from St. Louis to Chicago. That route laid the foundation for nearly a century of partnership between American Airlines and the city it helped connect to the world.
Over the past 70 years, American Airlines has played a defining role in the airport’s evolution, investing billions of dollars in the airport and the greater Chicago area. Its 9,500 Chicago-based employees serve as the backbone of its third-largest hub, which today connects passengers to more than 160 destinations in 17 countries.
Key moments in American’s Chicago legacy include:
- 1959: First airline to operate jets at the airport with a Boeing 707 flight to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
- 1971: Introduction of the world’s first scheduled Douglas DC-10 service to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- 1982: Establishment of an official hub, the airline’s second in its network
- 1986: Installation of the iconic Hall of Flags in Terminal 3’s H/K Concourse
- 1990: Completion of the Terminal 3 renovation, immortalized in Home Alone
- 2015: Deployment of the first Boeing 787 Dreamliner from the airport
- 2017: Opening of the Flagship® Lounge
- 2018: Debut of five new gates in the L-Stinger (the airport’s first gate expansion in 25 years)
- 2019: Completion of Hangar 2 (the world’s largest airline maintenance hangar)
From a single ceremonial flight to Paris in 1955 to a global network spanning six continents, American Airlines’ story at Chicago O’Hare Intenational Airport (ORD) reflects seven decades of innovation, resilience, and partnership with the city of Chicago.
American’s Senior Vice President of Global Airports, Contact Centers, and Inflight Dining Operations, Julie Rath, said:
For 70 years, American has grown alongside O’Hare, helping shape it into one of the world’s leading aviation hubs. We’re proud to stand with our partners today at the City of Chicago and Chicago Department of Aviation to honor the incredible history we share and celebrate the investments we’ve made together to elevate Chicago as a world-class destination. Fueled by our unwavering commitment to our Chicago team and customers, as well as the vibrant communities that keep the city thriving, we look forward to our future as the airline that sets the standard at ORD.”
Anthony’s Take: As the airline prepares to enter its 100th year, American continues its commitment to the airport that helped define modern air travel and the generations of travelers who have passed through its gates. I’ve been flying American more lately and am happy to see the way it’s transforming for the future with a more premium focus.
(Image Credits: American Airlines.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
