Connecting Communities
U.S. Airlines Commemorate Black History Month
February 26, 2025
This February, A4A carriers commemorated Black History Month and celebrated the countless contributions Black Americans have made to this country. Here is how some of our carriers recognized the incredible stories and achievements of Black Americans throughout the month:
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines and the Portland Trail Blazers teamed up to host a special HBCU weekend with Howard University’s Showtime Marching Band. Members of the band flew to Portland, courtesy of Alaska Airlines, for a weekend of community interaction, celebration and education.
“Our commitment to Portland runs deep – from our investment in the local community to offering the most flights to the most destinations from PDX,” said Megan Ouellette, vice president, public and government affairs at Alaska Airlines. “I know I join our more than 2600 Portland employees in anticipation as we partner with the iconic Trail Blazers and Howard University to bring the excitement of an HBCU to Portland.”
American Airlines
American Airlines honored the legacy of aviation trailblazer Captain David E. Harris – the first Black commercial airline pilot when he joined the carrier in 1964. “Captain Harris paved the way for future generations, inspiring countless pilots to chase their dreams to fly,” American said.
Atlas Air
Atlas Air honored trailblazers who broke barriers and paved the way for future generations of pilots and aviation professionals. Among those highlighted were James Banning, the first Black pilot to fly coast-to-coast across the United States and Captain Theresa Claiborne who made history as the U.S. Air Force’s first Black female pilot and later worked at United Airlines.
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines has a curated Black History Month IFE collection on board for customers. As it’s done in previous years, the airline’s Delta Studio team partnered with Delta’s BOLD Business Resource Group to co-curate a collection of 13 movies and shows celebrating Black voices in entertainment. This collection is featured in the ‘Top Picks’ section on all Delta flights with IFE screens throughout February.
FedEx
FedEx celebrated Black History Month by honoring several of the first Black pilots, known as The Magnificent Seven. Captain Ty Lewis, a member of The Magnificent Seven, became interested in aviation at the age of 12 when his grandmother bought him a 10-cent balsa wood airplane.
“I can remember hauling freight in the airplane and then actually moving freight around myself as a co-pilot,” Captain Lewis said. “All of us that were doing it could see that it was growing, but we had no idea what it would turn out to be.”
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines showcased Flight Attendant Supervisor Ashley Smith who visited Tulsa, immersing herself in the rich culture of the city for Black History Month.
“Tulsa is rich in history, culture and Black excellence,” Smith said. “This is your sign to book that trip.”
United Airlines
In honor of Black History Month, United’s MileagePlus cardmember customers were eligible to earn bonus miles for donating to non-profit partners the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, the Legal Defense Fund and the UNCF. United also hosted various internal events led by their Black Business Resource Group, BEACON, including kickoff celebrations, spirit weeks, Black History trivia and highlighting Black-owned businesses at vendor markets. The team hosted engaging and informative events for employees throughout the month plus a special fireside discussion with a United board member where personal and career insights were shared with over 700 employees.