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American Airlines’ CEO Is Against Divisive Politics: “We Fly Over Borders, Walls and Stereotypes”

Doug Parker, chairman and CEO of American Airlines, spoke out about his airline’s stance on the nation’s current political climate at a recent summit hosted by Airlines for America in Washington D.C. Parker was unequivocal in his criticism of the Trump administration’s extreme immigration policies.

Doug Parker, the chairman and CEO of American Airlines, has spoken out about his carrier’s stance on the nation’s current political climate, the Dallas Morning News reports. Parker offered his comments at a recent summit hosted by Airlines for America in Washington, D.C.

While he declined to mention President Trump specifically, Parker was quick to decry the current divisive nature of American politics, saying that it is the “antithesis of what we do and what our team does for a living.” Speaking of his staff as a whole, he said, “we fly over borders, walls and stereotypes to bring people together.”

He also spoke specifically of his request that his company’s craft not be used in the transportation of migrant children detained and separated from their parents at the U.S. border with Mexico.

Upon hearing that American’s planes were being utilized for these controversial family separations, Parker recalled that American’s stance was that “our team doesn’t want to be part of that.” Further recollecting the company’s views on the subject, he added, “I don’t care what you’re paying us…That’s not what we do.”

Parker was also quoted as saying that this stance is, “…is not so much a political statement as it is a true purpose of what we as a company do. When it’s things like separating people, we’re out.”

He also commented on the deteriorating trade situation between China and America. Parker observed that while the current tensions between the two nations haven’t yet had a detrimental impact on air travel, American has “some concerns, being a global carrier.”

Despite his strong criticism of some policies, he praised the administration for its achievements regarding an on-going dispute between a number of U.S. airlines and their Persian Gulf competitors.

[Photo: Shutterstock]

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35 Comments
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GeorgieBoy4 September 27, 2018

Another misguided CEO who thinks he can spout forth his political opinions before sound business practice of keeping his mouth shut. Just wait until the QAnons get hold of this. I suspect there may just be a hint of boycott here and there. Look what has happened to the NFL's business plan after the issue of patriotism raised its head. Doug baby let's not mess with the sensitivities of more than half of America, OK?

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AADFW September 27, 2018

Hey Dougie, ARE YOU LISTENING?? Nobody cares about your pity, empty PR bulls**t. Lifetime loyalists of American Airlines HATE what you have done to RAPE our beloved airline. After decades of loyalty, you took away the dedicated Executive Platinum check-in counters. Now I have to stand in line behind Fred the pencil salesman from Cleveland and 30 other people who decided to spend $20 to get Priority Check-in despite my >$30,000 in EQDs. It's total insanity. All you know is how to make money at the bottom, yet 5% of AAs most loyal clients are responsible for more than half of your revenue! Get a clue.

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douglowe September 21, 2018

AA makes a lot of money flying deportees back to somewhere. I often see escorted queues of moms and kids in my airport. And have watched them arrive in a INS bus with bars on the windows. Seems like if Mr. Parker has a problem with our immigration laws, he wouldn't be trying to capitalize on the situation. Which brings up another point, why do we FLY deportees anywhere. Seems like a bus ride all the way back to their destination would save all taxpayers a lot of money.

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John Aldeborgh September 21, 2018

Well now I’m happy I don’t fly AA, I’ve never heard anyone say anything good about AA. What a moron, let’s alienat 50% of the America traveling public, became you can’t control your ego. Political narratives have no place in Business. The AA Board should take action, they have the wrong guy running the Airline, he’s inclusive, except when it comes to customers that voted for Trump. Well I guess I’m inclusive when it comes to picking an Airline, except when it comes to AA and I consistently fly 300K+ BIS miles a year.

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Freebird September 21, 2018

I applaud him for taking a stand and speaking out. Some posters here seem to already have forgotten the disgusting practice of separating the children of asylum seekers from their parents - without ensuring they could be reunited later - and transporting them around the country via commercial flights, making crews involuntarily complicit in this type of human trafficking.