14. American Airlines’ move from NYC was controversial
The airline’s president at the time, Albert V. Casey, said about 9,000 jobs would still remain in New York and that the Dallas-Fort Worth area was more centralized for its expanding routes. He revealed that moving operations to Dallas would save millions per year, though New York officials disputed this; the director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey even said he would match the Dallas deal. New York officials were critical of the move, especially when American conducted about 2.3 percent of its business in New York City.
In 1975, American Airlines opened its headquarters at 633 Third Avenue between 40th and 41st Streets. American had been headquartered in New York City since 1939 after moving from Chicago. For a few years, the company operated out of the skyscraper near Grand Central, though by 1978, the company announced it would be moving its headquarters to Dallas. Mayor Ed Koch called the move a “betrayal” to New York City.