Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA)

American Airlines has taken delivery of its 1,000th mainline aircraft, a Boeing 787-9 featuring a new premium-heavy configuration.

Complicated by COVID-19, the negotiations have been ongoing for years with some bargaining groups, and patience is wearing thin.

On the heels of last year’s lucrative pilot contracts, flight attendants at U.S. airlines are beginning to reach their own agreements—and the pressure is on.

APFA has pointed to low starting pay and “astronomical” living costs in many of the airline’s hub cities and at crew bases such as Boston, Miami and New York.

Contract negotiations are far from over for U.S. airlines, as major pilot contracts set the bar high and flight attendants seek their own improvements.

Flight attendants are seeking what their fellow crewmembers in the cockpit have largely achieved—significant improvements to pay and contract provisions.

Flight attendants at American Airlines have authorized potential strike action, in a nearly unanimous vote.