Tell Me Why

In the latest episode of Tell Me Why, American’s Chief Digital and Information Officer Ganesh Jayaram joins Chief Communications Officer Ron DeFeo to talk about the priorities for American’s IT team, how technology is helping to improve the team member and customer experience and how American is leveraging AI to build a more efficient airline.

In the first episode of Season 9 of Tell Me Why, GE Aerospace Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Larry Culp joins Chief Communications Officer Ron DeFeo to talk about the decades-long relationship between American and GE Aerospace and how GE and CFM’s fuel-efficient engines power American’s aircraft. Larry emphasized GE Aerospace’s commitment to deliver best-in-class engines to help American maximize the power of our fleet and network to connect more people to more places than any other airline.

In the latest episode of Tell Me Why, Dallas Cowboys Owner, President and General Manager Jerry Jones joins Chief Communications Officer Ron DeFeo at The Star in Frisco, Texas, to talk about the power of partnership and what it means to build something enduring. Jerry reflects on the Cowboys’ long-standing relationship with American Airlines, the shared pursuit of excellence and how customer experience is at the heart of everything.

In the latest episode of Tell Me Why, Finnair CEO Turkka Kuusisto discusses the importance of oneworld and the Atlantic Joint Business. He also discusses Finnair’s recent centennial, improvements to the customer experience and the airline’s focus on sustainability. 

In the latest episode of Tell Me Why, José Freig, Vice President, International and Inflight Dining Operations, discusses American’s newest international routes and the exciting new products the airline is rolling out to support these markets. José also highlights the excitement of international team members as American heads into its centennial year.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy discusses the evolving future of transportation and the work being done to build a state-of-the-art air traffic control system.

Brian Znotins, SVP of Network Planning, discusses the newly announced international routes and the reasoning behind the selected destinations.

In the latest episode of Tell Me Why, Chief Digital and Information Officer Ganesh Jayaram joins Chief Communications Officer Ron DeFeo to discuss the critical role IT plays in enhancing the operation and customer experience. From app redesigns to new technologies supporting operations and customer interactions, the team is working hard to deliver a seamless digital journey.

On the season 8 debut of Tell Me Why, Chief Customer Officer Heather Garboden joins Chief Communications Officer Ron DeFeo to talk about the renewed focus on the customer experience and how the Customer Experience organization is keeping customers at the center of decisions being made. From new lounges and a redesigned mobile app to complimentary Wi-Fi for AAdvantage® members, sponsored by AT&T, the sky’s the limit when it comes to delivering a world-class experience for our customers.  

In the latest episode of Tell Me Why, Scott Chandler, Senior Vice President of Revenue Management and Loyalty, joins Ron DeFeo, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer, to share exciting updates to the AAdvantage® program. From getting to use your miles onboard to keeping it straightforward to earn status, discover how we’re making loyalty more rewarding for our customers.

In the latest episode of Tell Me Why, Capt. Alan Johnson, Vice President of Flight, and Cedric Wilson, Vice President of Safety Systems, Efficiency and Compliance, join Ron DeFeo, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer, to talk about how our Operations team is getting ready for a busy holiday travel season. Learn more about how American is preparing to welcome nearly 8.3 million customers during the Thanksgiving holiday period on our Newsroom.  

In the latest episode of Tell Me Why, Geoff Freeman, President and CEO of U.S. Travel Association, joins Ron DeFeo, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer, to talk about the work the association is doing to advocate on behalf of the travel industry. American is a proud member of U.S. Travel and partners with them to ensure that the interests of the travel community, and all those employed by it, are effectively represented within the legislative process.

In the latest episode of Tell Me Why, Brian Znotins, Senior Vice President of Network and Schedule Planning, joins Ron DeFeo, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer, to talk about the summer 2025 network announcement. American continues to grow its comprehensive global network and will offer customers five new routes to Europe next summer, including returning to Edinburgh, Scotland (EDI) for the first time since 2019.

In the latest episode of Tell Me Why, Heather Garboden, Senior Vice President, American Eagle and Cargo, joins Ron DeFeo, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer, to talk about how our regional carriers and Cargo team are helping us achieve our goals of running a reliable and profitable airline.

In the latest episode of Tell Me Why, Ganesh Jayaram, Chief Digital and Information Officer, joins Ron DeFeo, Chief Communications Officer, to talk about how technology is powering our airline. Team members are leveraging technology to support customers this summer by mitigating disruptions, driving faster recovery during irregular operations and delivering new features that make the customers’ travel journeys easier. To better support our customers and team members, IT is reengineering how they work with a focus on resiliency in delivery, excellence in engineering and modernizing technology. 

In the Season 7 premiere of Tell Me Why, David Seymour, Chief Operating Officer, joins Ron DeFeo, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer, to preview American’s summer operation and share some of the preparations we’ve made to ensure the airline runs smoothly for our customers during this critical time of year.Learn more about our preparation for the summer travel season on our Newsroom.

In the season 6 finale of Tell Me Why, Vasu Raja, Chief Commercial Officer, talks about how we think about our business and our customers – from the best global network to the award-winning AAdvantage program to connecting directly with our customer.

In the latest episode of Tell Me Why, Anne Moroni, Vice President of Operations Planning and Performance, talks about our strong operational performance, how we’ve prepared for the Thanksgiving holiday travel period and the latest tools and technology helping our team. We’re running the best operation in our history, and we’re prepared to continue delivering for our customers this winter holiday season. Learn more about what we’re expecting for Thanksgiving holiday travel on our Newsroom. 

In the latest episode of Tell Me Why, Meghan Montana, Senior Vice President and Treasurer, talks about the recent run-up in fuel prices, the proactive decisions we’re making to protect American from the rise in costs and how team members around the system can help conserve fuel.

In the latest episode of Tell Me Why, Jill Blickstein, VP and Chief Sustainability Officer talks about sustainability and why it’s so important for our airline. We’re on a path to net-zero emissions by 2050, and there is a lot to be excited about, including a recent study American participated in with Google Research and Breakthrough Energy on avoiding contrails in flight.

In the latest episode of Tell Me Why, Brian Znotins, Senior Vice President of Network Planning, talks about the summer 2024 network announcement. Next year, we’ll offer service to three new European cities, add one brand new route and resume service to Venice, Italy (VCE), from ORD.

Listen in to the latest episode for a recap of the second-quarter 2023 earnings call. Get the highlights of what Robert and other leaders discussed — from financial to operational performance.

In the latest episode of Tell Me Why, Carolyne Truelove, Vice President of Reservations and Service Recovery, and Kim Cisek, Vice President of Customer Experience, join Ron DeFeo, Chief Communications Officer, to talk about how we’re working to deliver a better experience across all touch points of the customer journey through technology and investments in our products.

In the latest episode of Tell Me Why, David Seymour, Chief Operating Officer, joins Ron DeFeo, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer, to talk about how we’re working as a team and solving for the system to deliver a reliable operation this summer — and keeping our customers at the center of all we do. The summer started strong, and we’re well positioned to deliver in the summer weeks ahead — and beyond.

Jessica Tyler, VP, IOC, joins Ron DeFeo to talk about how the IOC team is focused on delivering for our customers and fulfilling the promise we made when they booked travel with us. Earlier this week, Chief Operating Officer David Seymour shared an update on our outstanding Memorial Day weekend operational performance, and the IOC is committed to continuing that momentum throughout the summer and year-round.

In the latest edition of Tell Me Why, Evie Garces, VP of Line Maintenance discusses the important around-the-clock work Tech Ops performs, the critical role the team plays in our summer operation and steps American is taking to open doors to careers in aircraft maintenance, ensuring a full pipeline of aviation maintenance professionals for the future.

Don’t have time to listen to the full earnings call? No worries. We’ve put together the highlights in our new podcast recapping the call where Robert and other leaders discussed our financial and operational performance.

In the newest edition of Tell Me Why, Scott Laurence, SVP of Partnership Strategy and International, and Thomas Rajan, VP of Global Sales, discuss how American is implementing New Distribution Capability technology, which we use to distribute offers to customers through travel retailers, and giving customers the best content by improving the digital retail experience.

In the Season 6 premiere of Tell Me Why, Julie Rath, SVP of Airport Operations, discusses how the American team is carrying our strong operational momentum forward, following an impressive first quarter and spring break operation period so far. With the summer in sight, our focus remains on delivering a reliable operation for our customers by planning, executing and recovering. For the Airport Operations team, Julie says that means doubling down on our turn performance with the right tools and support. And when the inevitable spring and summer storms hit, we’ll continue to prioritize our swift recovery with a resilient plan, the right resources, refined processes and new technology.

Don’t have time to listen to a full earnings call? We’ve launched a new series with all the highlights. Hear what CEO Robert Isom had to say about our financial and operational performance in 2022 and what lies ahead for American.

In the Season 5 finale of Tell Me Why, Julie Rath, SVP of Airport Operations, joins Ron DeFeo, Chief Communications Officer, to discuss how our team ran a reliable operation during the Thanksgiving holiday travel period and is prepared to serve more than 10 million customers during the winter holiday travel peak. She said the team is prepared to control the controllables and deliver for our customers thanks to the great partnerships that exist across the airline, team member staffing and winter weather prep.

In the latest episode of Tell Me Why, Rusty Robertson, award-winning marketer and Co-founder of Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), and Eric Stonestreet, two-time Emmy Award-winning actor, best known for his portrayal of Cam on the hit comedy series “Modern Family,” join Ron DeFeo, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, to talk about what makes American’s partnership with SU2C so unique, how funding supports scientists in the mission to make every cancer patient a long-term survivor and how their personal stories make them passionate about this cause.

In the latest episode of Tell Me Why, Scott Laurence, SVP of Partnership Strategy, joins Ron DeFeo, Chief Communications Officer, to talk about how our partnership strategy is helping us create a world-class customer experience. Scott also discusses the importance of our new agreement with all three major global distribution systems and how our redesigned AAdvantage program is helping contribute to our goal of returning to profitability.

In the latest episode of Tell Me Why, Ralph Lopez, VP of CLT Operations, joins Ron DeFeo, Chief Communications Officer, to talk about the work the team is doing in CLT to run a reliable operation. Succeeding in DFW and CLT is critical to our airline’s success and the team in CLT is setting an important tone across key dependability metrics. Plus, Ralph and Ron share more about their excitement for the upcoming World Cup.

In the latest episode of Tell Me Why, JC Gulbranson, Senior Vice President of Flight Operations and IOC, joins Ron DeFeo, Chief Communications Officer, to discuss American’s strong operational performance in September, including during the devasting hurricanes, as well as what we’re focused on as we carry that momentum into October and through the busy holiday travel season.

In the latest episode of Tell Me Why, Juan Carlos Liscano, Vice President of MIA Operations, joins Ron DeFeo, Chief Communications Officer, to discuss his personal story tied to Hispanic Heritage Month and the Latin Diversity Network (LDN) Employee Business Resource Group (EBRG) as it celebrates 25 years of supporting local communities.

You’ve likely seen news articles lately about changes to our schedule, but there’s more to the story than just the headlines. In the latest episode of Tell Me Why, Brian Znotins, Vice President of Network Planning, joins Ron DeFeo, Chief Communications Officer, to discuss how schedules are built to meet the needs of our customers, team members and the operation. Looking for more insight into how schedules are built? Read Brett Snyder’s story that breaks down the process on Cranky Flier.

In the latest episode of Tell Me Why, Meghan Montana, , Vice President and Treasurer, joins Ron DeFeo, Chief Communications Officer, to share insight on three important topics – liquidity, debt and fuel. Meghan explains how well-positioned we are to continue navigating the post-pandemic recovery and how her team is focused on managing costs and reducing debt so we can achieve our goal of returning to profitability.

In the latest episode of Tell Me Why, Anne Moroni, Vice President of Operations Planning and Performance, and Brian Znotins, Vice President of Network Planning, join Ron DeFeo, Chief Communications Officer, to talk through how we’ve worked to build and deliver the best network in the world. Together with their teams, they’ve focused on building a schedule that our customers want to fly and that we can run reliably, with extra focus on our two biggest hubs – DFW and CLT.

In the latest episode of Tell Me Why, Franco Tedeschi, VP of Domestic Airports and Strategic Partnerships, joins Ron DeFeo, Chief Communications Officer, to talk about the role the spoke and gateway airports play in running a reliable operation. Our spokes and gateways account for about 47% of the airline’s flying each day and play a critical role in achieving our objectives of excelling at the fundamentals and succeeding in DFW and CLT. In fact, 50% of all turns going to DFW and CLT come from the spokes and gateways.

In the latest episode of Tell Me Why, JC Gulbranson, SVP, Airport Operations, joins Ron DeFeo, Chief Communications Officer, to talk about the incredible work our airport teams have been doing to get ready for summer. We’ve been preparing for summer for nearly a year to get the right people in the right place to support our operation.

In the latest episode of Tell Me Why, COO David Seymour joins Chief Communications Officer Ron DeFeo to talk about our focus on excelling at the fundamentals. The “one team” mentality is pivotal to mastering the turn, which our team does nearly 6,000 times a day, and running a safe and reliable operation this summer and beyond.

Have you ever wondered why we do the things we do at American? The Tell Me Why vodcast is a series that gives team members a look at the "why" behind the decisions our leaders make in guiding the world’s greatest airline. In Season 5 of Tell Me Why, we’ll dive deeper into our 2022 goals and objectives so you can better understand how we’ll run a reliable operation and return to profitability this year.

On a recent episode of Tell Me Why – the American Airlines vodcast series for team members that shares the “why” behind the decisions we make – host Caroline Clayton, Vice President of Global Engagement for American, sat down with Molly Wilkinson, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs. Molly discusses the importance of Pride Month, American’s long-standing support for the LGBTQ community and the airline’s ongoing advocacy efforts across the United States to ensure all people are able to live as their true, authentic selves.

In the latest episode of Tell Me Why, Jennifer Saddy, Managing Director, Absence Management, discusses the importance of team members getting a COVID-19 vaccine, the efforts the company is undertaking to help facilitate that and the new incentive program for those who choose to receive a vaccine.

In the latest episode of Tell Me Why, Chief Revenue Officer Vasu Raja explains what our new Northeast Alliance with JetBlue means for our team, the value of codeshares and how the alliance will help American continue to grow in the future.

In the Season 4 debut of Tell Me Why, Jill Blickstein, Managing Director of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), explains the strides American made on sustainability in the past year, despite the challenges the company faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.In 2020, American set a goal to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and published its strategy for achieving that ambitious goal in a reimagined ESG report. American also took its first delivery of sustainable aviation fuel last year and launched a carbon offsetting partnership with Cool Effect. In this episode, Jill describes the significance of these developments, how they contribute to our long-term vision as a company, and what comes next in our efforts to run a more sustainable airline.

n the latest episode of Tell Me Why, two of American’s Boeing 737 experts stop by to discuss the latest as American prepares to return the Boeing 737 MAX to commercial service on Dec. 29. John DeLeeuw, Chair of the National Safety Committee of the Allied Pilots Association (APA) and Chair of APA’s 737 MAX Return to Service Ad Hoc Committee, and Chris Hurrell, American’s 737 Fleet Captain, explain the critical role American’s pilots played in the recertification process, changes as part of the aircraft’s return to service, pilot training and our Tech Ops team’s incredible work to maintain and ready the aircraft.

In the latest Tell Me Why, President of Cargo and Vice President of Airport Excellence Jessica Tyler talks about the recent blending of the Cargo and Airport Excellence groups into a single team. Jessica discusses how Airport Excellence team members help our frontline team members take care of customers and each other across our network of airports. She also shares how Cargo has been busy ramping up our cargo-only flying schedule since it was introduced in March and why cargo-only flights are so important to our business right now.

S3E5 - “That’s the key to stopping the spread. It’s the multiple layers.” — David Seymour by American Airlines