American Airlines has been named the first Official Airline for the Women in Aviation International (WAI) annual conference, marking a new partnership between the carrier and the global nonprofit organisation. The announcement comes as the airline marks 100 years of connecting people and destinations worldwide.
As a strategic partner for 2026, American Airlines will support the 37th Women in Aviation International Conference, which will take place at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas, from March 19 to 21. The event is expected to bring together aviation and aerospace professionals, students and industry leaders from across the world.
Women in Aviation International is the largest nonprofit organisation focused on advancing women in aviation and aerospace. The organisation has more than 20,000 members across 120 countries and works to support the current and future workforce by developing talent pathways and encouraging women and girls to pursue careers across all areas of the aviation and aerospace sectors.
“At American, we believe building a culture where women and girls are represented, empowered and able to thrive as leaders is vital to the future of our industry,” said Cole Brown, American’s Chief People Officer. “As we celebrate our centennial year, we’re proud to partner with WAI — and welcome its supporters to our hometown of Dallas-Fort Worth — to honor our legacy of innovation and reinforce our commitment to developing the future of the aviation workforce. We look forward to continuing to inspire the next generation of aviation and aerospace professionals for generations to come.”
WAI2026 is a three-day conference that will include keynote sessions, practical learning opportunities, career development activities and networking events. As part of the partnership, American Airlines will take part throughout the conference programme. The airline will award eight scholarships during the event, contribute to panel discussions, attend networking sessions and sponsor both the Pioneer Hall of Fame dinner and the Career Panel for Girls in Aviation Day Dallas on March 21.
“We appreciate and value American’s year-round support of Women in Aviation International as a 2026 strategic partner,” said Lynda Coffman, WAI CEO. “As the Official Airline of this year’s annual conference, American has an important role in welcoming our estimated 5,000 WAI2026 attendees to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.”
The organisers said the partnership highlights the growing role of airlines in supporting workforce development and diversity across the aviation and aerospace industry, as the sector continues to address skills and representation challenges.
