One prominent example of an African American-owned airline in Black history is "Air Atlanta", which was founded in 1984 by former NFL football player, William H. Brown III. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Air Atlanta was the first African American-owned airline to offer regularly scheduled passenger service in the United States. The airline primarily operated flights along the East Coast, serving cities such as Atlanta, Baltimore, New York, and Miami.

Air Atlanta made significant strides in breaking barriers in the airline industry, providing opportunities for African Americans in both ownership and employment within the aviation sector. Though the airline faced financial challenges and eventually ceased operations in the mid-1990s, its legacy as a trailblazer in Black aviation history remains significant.