American Airlines, OBAP Celebrate 50 years of Progress, 100 Years of Flight

The Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) and American Airlines announced their partnership for OBAP’s 50th anniversary celebration.

As the event’s official Title Sponsor, American Airlines joins OBAP in honoring five decades of advancing awareness, access and opportunities for careers in aviation for those who otherwise might not have known it was possible.

Officials said the partnership is especially significant as American Airlines, which serves South Carolina airports, celebrates its centennial year in 2026, marking 100 years of connecting people and places around the world.

In 1964, American Airlines made history when it hired Captain David E. Harris, the first Black commercial airline pilot.

Ten years later, Harris joined fellow pioneers to establish OBAP, then known as the Organization of Black Airline Pilots, creating a network dedicated to opening doors for underrepresented communities in aerospace. 

“Captain David Harris’ groundbreaking achievement in 1964 forever changed the face of aviation and ignited a legacy of progress that still shapes our industry today,” said OBAP Board Chair Tennessee Garvey.

Garvey added, “This partnership with American Airlines is more than a celebration of where we’ve been — it is a promise to accelerate where we are going. Together, we are working to ensure that opportunity reaches every corner of aerospace, and that the next 50 years are defined by access, equity and boundless possibility.”