Which airline operated the first commercial flight of the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 in 1971?

American Airlines operated the first commercial flight of the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 in 1971.

The DC-10 entered scheduled passenger service with American Airlines on August 5, 1971, flying from Los Angeles to Chicago. It was a wide-body trijet, with two engines mounted under the wings and a third engine integrated into the base of the vertical tail.

The aircraft was developed to serve high-volume domestic routes while also offering long-range capability. Its three-engine layout allowed it to operate before modern twin-engine long-distance rules became as permissive as they are today.

American Airlines was the launch operator, but United Airlines was also an important early DC-10 customer. The type remained in passenger and cargo service for decades and was produced in several versions. Its later reputation was affected by serious accidents, but those events do not change American’s role in introducing the aircraft to scheduled commercial service.