American Airlines
Corprate Bias Ratings
Risk Level:
Summary:
American Airlines temporarily banned passengers who refused to wear a facemask while onboard an American Airlines flight. The company covers the cost for "medically necessary transition-related care" for its employees and their children. American Airlines has pledged to vet vendors for LGBTQ policies and funds the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). The company advocates for and funds LGBTQ policies and organizations. American Airlines has interfered with various state policies in conservative states. It is also a signatory of the Business Roundtable's 2019 Statement on the Purpose of Corporation, which promotes stakeholder capitalism. American Airlines discriminates against religious organizations in its charitable giving. For these reasons, American Airlines receives a High Risk rating.
Has denied service to customers, suppliers, or vendors due to their political views or religious beliefs OR corporately boycotts, divests, or sanctions regions, people groups, or industries.
American Airlines temporarily banned passengers who refused to wear a facemask while onboard an American Airlines flight (1). American Airlines has banned some customers for violating its mask rule and inciting violence. American Airlines required that all employees get vaccinated for Covid-19 in 2021, or face termination (2). The rule was ultimately reversed and never enforced due to ongoing court cases, but strict protocols were enforced on unvaccinated employees who had received an exemption or refused to be vaccinated (3). The company received a score of 100 on the Corporate Equality Index from the HRC (4). Among other requirements, this means American Airlines has pledged to vet vendors based on LGBTQ policies (5).
Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.
American Airlines provides monetary and in-kind donations to organizations that help children, communities, and military service members (1). American Airlines does not give to “religious organizations, churches, and programs that are purely denominational in purpose,” among other funding restrictions (2). It does not have an employee donation match program at this time.
Employment policies fail to protect against discrimination based on political affiliation/views and/or religion.
American Airlines does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (1).
Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.
American Airlines is an advocate for the Equality Act and transgender participation in female sports (1)(2). It has also denounced state election integrity efforts (3). Former American Airlines Chairman and CEO, Doug Parker, spoke out against the North Carolina legislation, HB 2, which required people to use the bathroom of their biological gender (4). American Airlines created pins for employees to wear that say “Black Lives Matter,” which sparked controversy among some employees (5). The company opposed the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act, which prohibits teaching gender identity and sexual orientation in schools to kids in K-3rd grade (6). CEO Robert Isom is a member of the Business Roundtable and Former CEO Doug Parker signed its 2019 Statement on the Purpose of Corporation, which promotes stakeholder capitalism over traditional obligations to shareholders and customers (7)(8). For the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Inn raids, American Airlines publicized its first-ever all LGBTQ+ flight crew, including two drag queens in their crew for the duration of the flight (9).
Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.
American Airlines has a perfect score on the HRC’s 2022 Corporate Equality Index. This score indicates the company covers the cost of “medically necessary transition-related care” for its employees and their children (1)(2). American Airlines is a Platinum Partner of the HRC (3). The company is also a Bronze sponsor of Out and Equal and a founding corporate partner of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (4)(5).
Uses corporate political contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.
American Airlines has donated to the Equality PAC (1).
All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
September 21, 2023
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