[[File:Fairchild FC-2W.jpg|thumb|American Airways FC-2, tahun 1927]]
[[File:Stinson Trimotor.jpg|thumb|Stinson Trimotor yang pertama kali dioperasikan oleh Century Airlines]]
American Airlines berkembang dari sebuah maskapai hasil penggabungan dari 82 maskapai penerbangan kecil pada tahun 1930, yang diberi nama AmericaAmerican Airways.<ref name=ap>{{cite news|last=Koenig|first=David|title=American Airlines parent seeks Ch. 11 protection|url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gqSFH2Ou81RHegJYXJtAeU9CkyhA?docId=c6952820f230470692fc37e00d9d2d36 |accessdate=7 December 2011 |newspaper=Google News |date= November 29, 2011|agency=Associated Press|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111204004443/http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gqSFH2Ou81RHegJYXJtAeU9CkyhA?docId=c6952820f230470692fc37e00d9d2d36|archivedate=December 4, 2011}}</ref> Awalnya, merek '''American Airways''' telah digunakan oleh beberapa maskapai berbeda, termasuk [[Southern Air Transport (1929)|Southern Air Transport]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cahslunken.org/stories/aahist.htm |title=American Airlines |last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |date= |website= |publisher=Cincinnati Aviation Heritage Society & Museum |accessdate=February 19, 2014}}</ref> di Texas, [[Southwest Air Fast Express|Southern Air Fast Express (SAFE)]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Eggebeen |first=Janna |year=2007 |title=Airport Age: Architecture and Modernity in America |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ivDDT3nI8NwC&pg=PA51&lpg=PA51&dq=%22Southwest+Air+Fast+Express%22+%22American+Airlines%22+merger&source=bl&ots=SmgwumYjMO&sig=ntSxOf2_7Qwz3TXv3PiobSrIGJo&hl=en&sa=X&ei=2DEFU_rGO8z8oATl_IFo&ved=0CEMQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=%22Southwest%20Air%20Fast%20Express%22%20%22American%20Airlines%22%20merger&f=false |location= |publisher=ProQues |isbn= |accessdate=February 19, 2014}}</ref> di barat Amerika Serikat, [[Universal Aviation Corporation|Universal Aviation]]<ref>{{cite web|title=UAL|url=https://www.oldworldauctions.com/archives/detail/134-150.htm|accessdate=February 19, 2014}}</ref>, Thompson Aeronautical Services<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stanwing.com/American%2004a%20Airlines%20Pilot%20Hat%20Badge%202nd%20Issue.html |title= American Airways Pilot Hat Badge 2nd Issue Usage 1934-1947 |last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |date= |website= |publisher= Stanley Baumwald|accessdate=February 19, 2014}}</ref> (yang mengoperasikan rute Detroit-Cleveland sejak tahun 1929), dan [[Colonial Air Transport]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/19258/American-Airlines#ref191731 |title=American Airlines |last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |date= |website= |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. |accessdate=February 19, 2014}}</ref> di Timur Laut Amerika Serikat. Seperti banyak maskapai lain saat itu, American Airways bergantung ke pengiriman surat sebagai pendapatan utamanya. Hingga tahun 1933, American Airways telah melayani penerbangan ke 72 kota, sebagian besar berada di Amerika Serikat.<ref>{{cite web|title=1933 - August 6 - American Airlines Timetables, Route Maps, and History |url=http://airchive.com/html/timetable-and-route-maps/american-airlines-timetables-route-maps-and-history/1933-august-6-american-airlines-timetables-route-maps-and-history/4703|publisher=Airchive|accessdate=9 December 2013}}</ref>
[[File:American DC-3.jpg|thumb|left|DC-3 ''Flagship'', Pesawat utama American Airlines selama Perang Dunia II]]
