American Airlines has signed a 5-year service agreement with the U.S. Postal Service
potentially worth $500 million in revenue to American, which is the largest
single contract ever awarded to American’s Cargo division.The previous contract with the Postal Service, executed in 2003,
narrowed the number of carriers from 50 to only 13 and instituted stringent
new requirements for the on-time delivery of mail by contracted carriers.
To accommodate the requirements of that contract, American completely re-
engineered its mail processes. Today, American is a preferred carrier of
the Postal Service and carries more mail than any other passenger airline.
  “We have a strong relationship with the Postal Service and are pleased
to have been selected as one of seven preferred carriers to participate in
the new five-year agreement,” said Dave Brooks - President of American
Airlines Cargo Division. “American has a remarkable team of dedicated
employees who have demonstrated their commitment to this very important
customer. Our fleet service clerks and the Transport Workers Union (TWU) in
particular helped make this contract possible in the truest spirit of
‘working together.’ It is a fitting tribute to our long history of flying
mail throughout our network.”
  Jack Potter, Postmaster General for the U.S. Postal Service, said, “We
appreciate American Airlines’ commitment to meeting the needs of the Postal
Service and look forward to working with them as an important supplier in
the years ahead.”
  Thus begins a new chapter in American’s relationship with the Postal
Service—one that began in 1926 when Charles Lindbergh flew a contract
mail route for a predecessor company of American Airlines. Since that time,
American Airlines has participated in the transportation of the U.S. mail
to cities throughout the nation and the world.
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