An American Airlines plane lands at Miami International Airport on July 24, 2025 in Miami, Florida.
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american airlines As the airline’s profits lag behind its competitors, the company has hired Nat Pieper, a nearly 30-year industry veteran, as its new head of sales. delta and united.
American Airlines fired former chief commercial officer Vasu Raja in 2024. His business travel strategy backfired, sparking a backlash from highly profitable corporate travel agencies and sharply reducing revenue projections.
Mr. Pieper, 56, has been in the industry since the late 1990s and has worked for Northwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines, alaska airlines. Most recently, he led Oneworld, a large airline alliance that includes American Airlines and British Airways. His positions included high-level roles in networks, alliances, fleet strategy and finance.
In a staff note seen by CNBC, American CEO Robert Isom said, “He is exactly the kind of leader we want at American: a collaborative and exceptional people leader who is relentlessly focused on delivering results while looking to the future.”
Pieper said in an interview with CNBC last month that Oneworld airlines need to do more to improve technology to make customers’ journeys smoother, even when moving between partner airlines, and hinted at how he would improve technology during his time at American Airlines.
American Airlines said he will start Nov. 3 and oversee the Fort Worth, Texas-based airline’s commercial strategy, loyalty programs, network planning and revenue and sales functions.
