Former American CEO Starting Nonprofit to Promote Aviation Careers

Former American Airlines Chairman and CEO Doug Parker is starting a nonprofit designed to “remove the barriers that exist for underrepresented young adults to have rewarding careers in aviation, particularly as pilots.”

Ryan Ewing

Thursday, October 05, 2023 at 06:25 PM ET

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American Airlines CEO Doug Parker speaks to the Snowball Express crowd in Dallas [Photo: AirlineGeeks/Parker Davis]

Key Takeaways:

Former American Airlines Chairman and CEO Doug Parker has launched a new nonprofit called Breaking Down Barriers (BDB).
BDB's mission is to remove obstacles for underrepresented young adults to pursue rewarding careers in aviation, especially as pilots.
Dana Donati, an experienced leader in pilot recruitment and training, has been appointed as BDB's CEO, contributing to broader efforts to address the aviation industry's pilot shortage.

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Former American Airlines Chairman and CEO Doug Parker is starting a nonprofit, according to a Linkedin post on Monday. Parker, who served as CEO of America West, US Airways, and then American for 22 years, said the new charity will “remove the barriers that exist for underrepresented young adults to have rewarding careers in aviation, particularly as pilots.”

Parker’s organization will be named Breaking Down Barriers (BDB).