Companies Leaving California
American Airlines (*Flight Attendant Base, only) Leaves California for (Multiple locations)
American Airlines (*Flight Attendant Base, only) left California for (Multiple locations) in 2022. The company employs approximately 52,110 people, though it is unclear how many were directly affected by the relocation.
In Buildremote's database of companies leaving California, American Airlines (*Flight Attendant Base, only) is one of 36 companies that left California in 2022 — 17% of all tracked departures. American Airlines (*Flight Attendant Base, only) is also one of 18 companies with 10,000+ employees to have left the state, accounting for 9% of all relocations in our database. By employee count, American Airlines (*Flight Attendant Base, only) is the 7rd largest company to have left California in our database.
Moved To
(Multiple locations)
When
9/15/2022
Employees
52,110
Moved From
California
"American Airlines announced that they are relocating more than 400 flight attendants who were based out of San Francisco International Airport, to other parts of the country." — Source
Frequently Asked Questions
When did American Airlines (*Flight Attendant Base, only) leave California?
American Airlines (*Flight Attendant Base, only) left California in 9/15/2022.
Where is American Airlines (*Flight Attendant Base, only) headquartered now?
American Airlines (*Flight Attendant Base, only) relocated its headquarters to (Multiple locations) after leaving California.
Why Are Companies Leaving California?
Companies cite a consistent set of reasons for leaving California: taxes, regulation, and the cost of living. Executives have pointed to the ability to reduce state corporate tax rates by more than a third after relocating, and many describe searching for a "more sustainable place to do business." California's regulatory environment is frequently mentioned — in the state, "local rules could dictate how the company chooses board members, for instance."
Talent is another major factor. While California has long been a talent magnet, executives now describe finding "a great talent pool" in their new states — and the ability for employees to actually afford to live there. As one CEO put it, their employees can be homeowners in Texas, "which in the Bay Area is virtually impossible."
Others cite cultural reasons: an "increasing intolerance and monoculture of Silicon Valley," and a desire to find a state with "a strong economic climate with low taxes, reasonable regulations, and a high-caliber workforce." States like Texas, Florida, and Arizona have actively marketed themselves as alternatives — Arizona, for instance, offering "the ideal conditions of being business-friendly, offering a high quality of life at reasonable cost."
For many companies, the decision comes down to practical business needs: "our business needs, opportunities for cost savings, and team members" — and an acknowledgment that there were "some symmetries in the way that the Bay Area works that just didn't really work well for us."
Buildremote Research
Companies Leaving California — The Complete Database
Every company that has left California since 2020. Destinations, dates, employee counts, and sources — all in one spreadsheet.
Related California Research
Want to track the entire trend of companies leaving California since 2020? See the statistics and notable companies who have left. Or, access the entire database of 207+ companies.
Discuss American Airlines (*Flight Attendant Base, only)'s Move
Data compiled by Buildremote. Last updated April 23, 2026. Sources linked above.