Kyle W. Mabry

Kyle Mabry serves as an Adjunct Professor of Aviation Studies in the College of Education at Texas Christian University. A recently retired senior executive from American Airlines and current principal of Mabry & Associates, he brings more than 30 years of leadership experience across aviation strategy, commercial leadership, sales, operations, customer engagement, and organizational development. As a veteran of the industry with a truly global perspective, his teaching reflects decades of practical leadership experience within one of the world’s largest airlines, with an emphasis on strategy, leadership, customer experience, and the evolving dynamics of the global aviation industry.

Mabry began his career with American Airlines in 1993 in Revenue Management before moving into leadership roles within the airline’s AAdvantage loyalty program, where he led initiatives involving strategy, communications, advertising, partner marketing, and loyalty strategy. He later joined the Global Sales and Distribution organization, where he led teams across Texas, the Midwest, and the Western United States, ultimately serving as Managing Director of the airline’s Western Division commercial organization based in Los Angeles. During that time, he played a key leadership role in strengthening American’s presence and partnerships in Los Angeles, including relationships involving the LA Rams, LA Chargers, and major entertainment and media organizations, helping lead the airline’s efforts to restore its standing as “Hollywood’s Preferred Airline” and support its broader campaign to “Win LAX.”

In 2021, Mabry was named Vice President of Global Sales and President of American Airlines Vacations, overseeing the airline’s sales strategy with a focus on corporate accounts, travel management companies, online travel agencies, group travel partners, and travel advisors around the world. He later was appointed Vice President and head of International Operations and Commercial, leading the operational and commercial activities of the airline across Europe, Asia Pacific, and Australia while helping guide American’s international strategy and airline partnerships. His international leadership responsibilities included all airports, vendors, and employees. Plus close collaboration with leading global airline partners such as British Airways, Japan Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, and Alaska Airlines, providing broad experience across alliance strategy, international operations, and customer engagement.

Today, through Mabry & Associates, he remains engaged in selected advisory work involving aviation strategy, commercial recovery, sales and marketing leadership, distribution, customer loyalty, and operational performance within the airline and travel industries. He is also actively involved in supporting the development of TCU’s emerging aviation program and strengthening its connections to the broader aviation industry.

Mabry has served on the boards of directors for the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission, Alzheimer’s Greater Los Angeles, the Van Cliburn Foundation, and other civic and nonprofit organizations.

 

Education
Master of Business Administration, Finance
Neeley School of Business
Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, Texas
1993

 

Bachelor of Business Administration
Baylor University
Waco, Texas
1990