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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Edward G. Rieck

Honoree:
Donna L. Richardson

Donna L. Richardson began her aviation career in November 1966 as a stewardess with Northeast Airlines in New York. Wanting to fly international routes, in May 1968 she applied to and was hired by Trans World Airlines (TWA) as an international hostess. In September of that same year, Donna was selected to serve as TWA’s representative at the inaugural roll-out of the Boeing 747 at Boeing Everett Factory. In 1970, she was promoted to Supervisor of In-Flight Services and shortly afterwards to Director of Customer Service (DCS) where she was charged with responsibility for the airline’s Azores market. When the DCS program dismantled in 1976, she became a Supervisor of In-Flight Recruitment based at TWA’s Breech Training Academy. From 1984-2001, Donna served in various roles including In-Flight Services New Hire Instructor, Flight Attendant Grooming Instructor, Supervisor of In-Flight Services, Supervisor of In-Flight Training, and flight attendant. When TWA was purchased by American Airlines (AA) in 2001, she continued as a flight attendant until furloughed in 2003. From 2004-2005, she flew as a flight attendant for St. Louis-based Trans States Airlines serving regional routes for AA, United Airlines, US Airways. In 2006, Donna retired from AA (while still furloughed) and was hired as an inflight crewmember with JetBlue Airways where she is still employed.

Donna is the recipient of several corporate and departmental awards for outstanding customer service, leadership, dedication, and performance including TWA’s Award of Excellence, AA’s Professional Flight Attendant Award, and most-recently JetBlue’s Community Connection Award.