WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) has officially announced American Airlines as the 2014 "Corporation of the Year." American received the award at the National Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah on September 23, 2014. Each year, the USHCC presents this award to a corporation that has championed Hispanic enterprise, demonstrating that diversity and inclusion initiatives are both principled and profitable. Mr. Fernand Fernandaz, Vice President of Global Marketing, accepted the award on behalf of American Airlines.
"In every sense, American Airlines continues to help the USHCC go the distance, and ascend to greater heights. From promoting supplier diversity, to empowering women, to embracing the LGBT, Hispanic and other minority communities, American Airlines has not only carried the banner of inclusion – it has challenged all of us to do better," said USHCC President & CEO Javier Palomarez.
Last month, the airline made history by appointing Captain Kathi Durst as its first female chief pilot at the the airline's largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Captain Durst has 25 years of flying experience with American Airlines in addition to 7 years o service in the U.S. Air Force. In 1981, Durst became among the first females to graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy. She was the first female pilot in a flight management leadership role in the airline's history when she became the Fleet Captain for American's Boeing 737 fleet.
"American Airlines is proud to have been selected as Corporation of the Year by the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. We stand behind the organization's mission to help foster Hispanic economic development and are proud of our 10 partnership and, of being the official airline of this Chamber" said Fernand Fernandez, Vice President of Global Marketing for American Airlines. "American Airlines' commitment to the Hispanic community and culture is far more than a statement; it's woven into the fabric of our business and everyday practices."
Palomarez continued: "American Airlines is far more than a collection of 631 aircraft – it is a global agent of commerce, progress, and hope. Through it all, American Airlines continues to connect people and business across our country and around the globe - thousands of times each day – tens of millions of times a year. We commend American Airlines for their leadership, and are proud to honor them with our 2014 Corporation of the Year award."
In 2013, the USHCC awarded George Carrancho, then Manager of American Airlines' Diverse Segment Marketing, with the first ever USHCC LGBT Business Advocate Award at the National Convention in Chicago, Illinois. This award is presented to an individual whose work fosters a better understanding and closer cooperation between the LGBT and other diverse communities that drive our nation's economy.
About American Airlines
American Airlines focuses on providing an exceptional travel experience across the globe, serving more than 260 airports in more than 50 countries and territories. American's fleet of nearly 900 aircraft fly more than 3,500 daily flights worldwide from hubs in Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami and New York. American flies to nearly 100 international locations including important markets such as London, Madrid, Sao Paulo and Tokyo. With more than 500 new planes scheduled to join the fleet, including continued deliveries of the Boeing 737 family of aircraft and new additions such as the Boeing 777-300ER and the Airbus A320 family of aircraft, American is building toward the youngest and most modern fleet among major U.S. carriers. American's website, aa.com®, provides customers with easy access to check and book fares, and personalized news, information and travel offers. American's AAdvantage® program, voted Airline Program of the Year at the 2013 Freddie Awards, lets members earn miles for travel and everyday purchases and redeem miles for flights to almost 950 destinations worldwide, as well as flight upgrades, vacation packages, car rentals, hotel stays and other retail products. The airline also offers nearly 40 Admirals Club® locations worldwide providing comfort, convenience, and an environment with a full range of services making it easy for customers to stay productive without interruption. American is a founding member of the oneworld® alliance, which brings together some of the best and biggest airlines in the world, including global brands like British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Iberia Airlines, Japan Airlines, LAN and Qantas. Together, its members serve more than 840 destinations served by some 9,000 daily flights to nearly 160 countries and territories. Connect with American on Twitter @AmericanAir or Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines. American Airlines, Inc. and American Eagle Airlines, Inc. are subsidiaries of AMR Corporation. AMR Corporation common stock trades under the symbol "AAMRQ" on the OTCQB marketplace, operated by OTC Markets Group. For more on American Airlines' commitment to diversity, please visit both aa.com/rainbow and aa.com/diversity.
About the USHCC
Founded in 1979, the USHCC actively promotes the economic growth and development of our nation's entrepreneurs. The USHCC advocates on behalf of nearly 3.2 million Hispanic-owned businesses, that together contribute in excess of $468 billion to the American economy, each year. As the leading organization of its kind, the USHCC serves as an umbrella to more than 200 local chambers and business associations across the nation, and partners with more than 220 major corporations.
For more information, visit www.ushcc.com.
Follow us on Twitter @USHCC