Citi secures exclusive rights to American Airlines cards

American Airlines (NASDAQ:AAL ) and Citi have announced a decade-long extension of their co-branded credit card partnership, with Citi set to become the sole issuer of the AAdvantage® co-branded card portfolio in the United States starting in 2026. This move is anticipated to enhance the loyalty and rewards programs for both AAdvantage® members and Citi cardholders.

The partnership, which has spanned over 37 years, will see Citi acquiring the Barclays (LON:BARC ) American Airlines Co-branded Card portfolio. The transition of Barclays cardmembers to Citi is expected to maintain the current level of benefits until the switch in 2026. Additional details regarding the transition will be released in future months.

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom expressed pride in the airline's pioneering efforts in loyalty programs and co-branded credit cards, citing the strength of the partnership with Citi in delivering quality products and services. He anticipates that the expanded partnership will bring new benefits and value to customers.

Citi's CEO, Jane Fraser, highlighted the importance of the partnership in providing excellence to customers and expressed enthusiasm for elevating the relationship through new loyalty and reward offerings. The alignment is set to create more opportunities for welcoming new cardmembers and enhancing the relationship with current ones.

The Citi®/AAdvantage® card portfolio offers a range of products catering to different fee levels, including the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card, the Citi®/AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, and the Citi®/AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®, along with a business card option.

The exclusive agreement will allow Citi to manage all American Airlines acquisition channels, including inflight and airport venues, aiming to drive growth for Citi’s Branded Cards business and its U.S. Personal Banking business.

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Source: Investing.com