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{{Infobox CEO
| name = Doug Parker
| image = Doug_Parker.jpg
| image_size = 300px
| caption = Parker at American Airlines headquarters
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|10|31}}
| birth_place = Michigan, United States
| nationality = {{flag|United States}} American
| education = Albion College (BA)<br>Vanderbilt University (MBA)
| occupation = Business Executive
| title = Former Chairman and CEO of American Airlines
| term = December 2013–March 2022
| predecessor = Tom Horton
| successor = Robert Isom
}}

'''Doug Parker''' (born October 31, 1961) is an American airline executive who served as chairman and chief executive officer of [[American Airlines|American Airlines Group]] from December 2013 until his retirement in March 2022, leading the world's largest airline by fleet size.<ref>{{cite news |title=American Airlines Doug Parker CEO |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/american-airlines-us-airways-merger-completed-1386628600 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=December 9, 2013 |access-date=December 15, 2025}}</ref>

Parker orchestrated two major mergers—America West with US Airways in 2005, and US Airways with American Airlines in 2013—creating a global aviation giant.<ref>{{cite news |title=US Airways American Merger |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usairways-americanairlines-merger-idUSBRE91D0SQ20130214 |newspaper=Reuters |date=February 14, 2013 |access-date=December 15, 2025}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==

Doug Parker was born on October 31, 1961, and grew up in Michigan, moving frequently due to his father's career with The Kroger Co.<ref>{{cite news |title=Doug Parker Biography |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/doug-parker/ |publisher=Forbes |access-date=December 15, 2025}}</ref>

He graduated from Albion College in 1984 with a BA in Economics and earned his MBA from Vanderbilt University's Owen Graduate School of Management in 1986.<ref>{{cite news |title=Parker Education |url=https://www.vanderbilt.edu/owen/alumni |publisher=Vanderbilt University |access-date=December 15, 2025}}</ref>

== Career ==

=== America West CEO (2001-2007) ===

On September 1, 2001—ten days before 9/11—Parker became CEO of America West Airlines. He navigated the airline through the post-9/11 crisis, securing $429 million in federal loan guarantees.<ref>{{cite news |title=America West Post 9/11 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/15/business/america-west-loan-guarantee.html |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=December 15, 2025}}</ref>

=== US Airways (2005-2013) ===

In 2005, Parker merged America West with US Airways, becoming CEO of the combined airline.<ref>{{cite news |title=America West US Airways Merger |url=https://www.cnbc.com/america-west-us-airways-merger |newspaper=CNBC |access-date=December 15, 2025}}</ref>

=== American Airlines CEO (2013-2022) ===

In December 2013, Parker became CEO of American Airlines Group after the US Airways-American merger. Revenue exceeded $40 billion annually under his leadership.<ref>{{cite news |title=American Airlines Revenue |url=https://www.aa.com/investors |publisher=American Airlines |access-date=December 15, 2025}}</ref>

He retired in March 2022.<ref>{{cite news |title=Parker Retires |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/american-airlines-ceo-doug-parker-to-retire-11638878400 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=December 7, 2021 |access-date=December 15, 2025}}</ref>

== Personal life ==

Parker is married to Gwen Parker, a former flight attendant. They have three children: Jackson, Luke, and Eliza.<ref>{{cite news |title=Parker Family |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/parker-family |newspaper=Dallas Business Journal |access-date=December 15, 2025}}</ref>

In 2023, Parker and his wife launched Breaking Down Barriers, a nonprofit helping people in underserved communities access pilot careers.<ref>{{cite news |title=Breaking Down Barriers Foundation |url=https://www.breakingdownbarriers.org |publisher=Breaking Down Barriers |access-date=December 15, 2025}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[American Airlines]]
* [[US Airways]]

== References ==

{{reflist}}

== External links ==

* [https://www.aa.com American Airlines official website]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American chief executives]]
[[Category:American Airlines people]]
[[Category:Albion College alumni]]
[[Category:Vanderbilt University alumni]]
[[Category:Airline chief executives]]

[[Category:Chief executive officers]]