American Airlines Flight Attendants' New Contract Ends Strike Threat
American Airlines flight attendants approved a new contract on Thursday, ending a prolonged dispute that drew President Joe Biden's attention. The five-year agreement provides significant improvements, including pay raises of up to 20.5% starting October 1, followed by annual increases of 2.75%, 3%, 3%, and 3.5%.
For the first time, American Airlines flight attendants will be compensated for passenger boarding time. Historically, U.S. flight attendants were not paid for this period. Delta Airlines set a precedent by offering 50% pay during boarding to its nonunion crew in 2022, which pressured other airlines to follow suit.
The new contract affects approximately 28,000 flight attendants at American, based in Fort Worth, Texas. As per the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, 87% of voting members supported the deal, with 95% of eligible employees participating in the vote.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom emphasized the crucial importance of finalizing this contract, noting that "getting a deal done with flight attendants was a top priority." The agreement follows a similar one reached with pilots last year.
In July, President Biden remarked that a strike at American Airlines would have been "devastating for the industry and consumers." The flight attendants, who had not seen a raise since 2019, previously rejected an offer with an 18% pay increase and annual 2% raises.
This new agreement comes after Southwest Airlines flight attendants ratified a contract in April, securing cumulative pay raises of about 33% over four years. United Airlines flight attendants are still negotiating, while Delta's nonunion crews received a 5% pay increase in April.
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