American Airways, from the South to Los Angeles
In October 1930, American Airways opened an Atlanta to Los Angeles route in two days, with an overnight stop in Texas. Michel Lagneau connects it with a historical reading of the American South and the memory of the former Confederate states.
The plan should be approached with care: the aviation route is fascinating, but it crosses heavy American history shaped by slavery, the Civil War and its consequences.
American Airways before the American Airlines name.
A modern commercial line across the southern USA.
A trimotor gives the right tempo and period.
Two days, timetable, desert and gradually changing scenery.
Understanding the flight
The aviation core is an ambitious line: connect Atlanta to Los Angeles in 35 hours, with a commercial message about speed, comfort and reliability.
The historical core calls for a clear and sober reading. The article recalls the Confederate context without romanticising what it represented.
Before departure
- Fly it in two days, with a Dallas/Fort Worth pause in the spirit of the timetable.
- Choose an old trimotor and accept modest speeds.
- Prepare the desert section between El Paso, Douglas, Tucson, Phoenix and Los Angeles.
- Use the timetable as a backbone, but keep the reading of the land calm and clear.
Suggested route
Day 1, Atlanta to Texas
Atlanta, Jackson, Shreveport and Dallas/Fort Worth form the first commercial day.
KATL → KJAN → KSHV → KDFW
Day 2, Texas and New Mexico
Fort Worth, Big Spring and El Paso move the line toward drier country.
KDFW → KFTW → KELP
Arizona and California
Douglas, Tucson, Phoenix and Los Angeles conclude with the desert and then the Pacific.
KELP → KDGL → KTUS → KPHX → KLAX
Experience tips
Keep the historical context in mind, but let the route remain readable and aeronautical.
The second day is the most spectacular: dry terrain, long legs and the California arrival.
Copyright Michel Lagneau 2014