Citi becomes sole issuer for American Airlines' cobranded credit cards

American Airlines and Citi have announced the extension of their cobranded partnership for another decade. This agreement will make Citi the exclusive issuer of the AAdvantage cobranded card portfolio starting in 2026. American Airlines CEO Robert Isom stated, "American is proud to have launched the first airline loyalty program, and with Citi, the travel industry's first co-branded credit card."

For nearly 40 years, American Airlines has partnered with Citi. However, due to a merger with US Airways in 2013, Barclays also became an issuer of American's cobranded cards. Currently, Citi markets its cards online and at airport lounges while Barclays markets them in flight and at terminals. From 2026 onwards, Citi will take over the Barclays AAdvantage card portfolio.

Barclays previously issued one business card and four personal cards under its AAdvantage Aviator portfolio. Now only one remains available to new applicants: the AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard.