NEW YORK, Oct. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- American Airlines said today it is honored to have been named to THE BCA TEN: Best Companies Supporting the Arts in America by the Business Committee for the Arts, Inc. (BCA), a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to fostering collaboration between business and the arts.

"I'm thrilled that BCA has selected American Airlines for this prestigious award," said American Airlines Chairman and CEO Gerard Arpey. "As a company, we have long recognized that providing support to the arts greatly contributes to the quality of life in the cities we serve -- both for our customers and for our employees. I'm pleased that our efforts and contributions have been recognized."

THE BCA TEN awards, sponsored by BCA and FORBES Magazine, were presented for the first time this year. They are based on a number of factors, including the company's and its employees' active support of the arts, the degree to which the arts are incorporated into customer relationships, the extent to which the arts are pervasive in the company's culture, and how the company helps to increase audiences for the arts.

American provides significant support to hundreds of arts organizations each year throughout the United States, in cities both large and small. In American's hometown of Dallas/Fort Worth, for instance, the airline and its people work closely with dozens of arts and cultural organizations.

Other organizations and events receiving American's support include the Roundabout Theatre Company in New York City, the Japanese American National Museum in California, the Symphony of the Americas Concert Series in Latin America and Miami, and the Art Institute of Chicago, to name just a few.

In addition, the airline also supports and encourages artistic expression among its own people by sponsoring an annual "On My Own Time Employee Art Show" at the company's headquarters in Dallas/Fort Worth. The two-week exhibit allows American's employees from across the company to show their own artwork, which is judged by professional artists and then displayed in a prominent location in the area.

As a company committed to the communities it serves, American has continued its active support of the arts even as the airline -- and indeed the entire airline industry -- goes through a period of unprecedented upheaval and financial stress, a fact noted by Fred Bronstein, President and CEO of the Dallas Symphony Association.

"It is easy to give back to the community when all is upbeat," said Bronstein. "But the true measure of greatness for any organization or company is how it acts when the going gets tough. American has demonstrated what a great company is in both the best and most challenging of times."

Bella Goren, American's Vice President of Interactive Marketing and Reservations as well as a member of the board of North Texas Business for Culture and the Arts, accepted the award in New York on American's behalf.

"American and our people have a long-standing record of supporting the arts and enhancing what the arts bring to our communities," said Goren afterward. "Hundreds of American and American Eagle employees volunteer in many positions and capacities in local and national arts organizations, and this commitment has been ongoing. We're proud of them, and grateful for their contributions."

About American Airlines

American Airlines is the world's largest airline. American, American Eagle and the AmericanConnection(R) regional airlines serve 250 cities in over 40 countries with more than 3,800 daily flights. The combined network fleet numbers more than 1,000 aircraft. American's award-winning Web site, AA.com, provides users with easy access to check and book fares, plus personalized news, information and travel offers. American Airlines is a founding member of the oneworld(SM) Alliance, which brings together some of the best and biggest names in the airline business, enabling them to offer their customers more services and benefits than any airline can provide on its own. Together, its members serve more than 600 destinations in over 135 countries and territories. American Airlines, Inc. and American Eagle Airlines, Inc. are subsidiaries of AMR Corporation . AmericanAirlines, American Eagle, AmericanConnection, AA.com and AAdvantage are registered trademarks of American Airlines, Inc.

About the Business Committee for the Arts

The Business Committee for the Arts, Inc. (BCA), founded in 1967 by David Rockefeller, is a national not-for-profit organization that brings business and the arts together. It provides businesses of all sizes with the services and resources necessary to develop and advance partnerships with the arts that benefit business, the arts and the community.

AmericanAirlines(R) We know why you fly(SM) Current AMR Corp. releases can be accessed via the Internet. The address is http://www.aa.com/

CONTACT: Ned Raynolds, Corporate Communications of American Airlines,
Inc., +1-212-476-9641, or corp.comm@aa.com

Web site: http://www.aa.com/