American Airlines has unveiled a special livery to mark its upcoming 100th anniversary in 2026. The new design, named ‘Flagship,’ will be featured on a Boeing 777-300ER with the registration N735AT. The aircraft is expected to begin operating flights with the commemorative livery in November.
The centenary paint scheme maintains the airline’s signature silver base but introduces a lightning bolt cheat line along the fuselage, echoing American Airlines’ earlier designs from nearly 90 years ago. The motif was first seen on the carrier’s Douglas DC-3 aircraft, which played a significant role in early commercial aviation.
Ron DeFeo, Chief Communications Officer at American Airlines, stated: “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.” He also said that the design “evokes our rich history while looking ahead to our next 100 years.”
As part of the anniversary celebration, N735AT will be renamed ‘Flagship DFW,’ recognizing Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, one of American Airlines’ key hubs. The livery will also display a roundel logo featuring an eagle with outstretched wings near the rear of the plane.
This is not the first time American Airlines has used a retro-inspired livery. In 2017, it introduced the ‘Astrojet’ design on a Boeing 737-800, inspired by liveries originally applied to Boeing 727s in the 1960s.
Beyond exterior changes, American Airlines plans to upgrade N735AT’s interior with more luxurious features as part of its Flagship branding.
The airline began its centenary celebrations last month by revealing a new logo and promotional video for its 100th anniversary in 2026. The logo incorporates the number 100 and uses the airline’s tail design to link two zeros in an infinity shape.
