American Airlines pilots approve new contract
American Airlines pilots have approved a new four-year contract, which their union on Monday called “unprecedented” in terms of benefits secured in a single agreement.
The Allied Pilots Association (APA), which represents 15,000 pilots for the Texas-based airline, said 72.7% of pilots voted in favor of the deal, which secures more than $9.6 billion in additional value compared to its previous agreement.
Pilots at U.S. legacy carriers such as American, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines are securing big improvements in pay and working conditions in new agreements reached this year, at a time when travel is soaring after a sharp decline during the pandemic.
→ American Airlines to add new routes and destinations to Europe for next summer
“It’s unprecedented and historic,” Allied Pilots Association president Capt. Ed Sicher told Reuters on Monday.
“For pilots, the biggest win is not just wages, but work-life balance.”
The 48-month contract carries wage improvements that include some $1.1 billion in immediate lump-sum payments and ratification bonuses. According to a union statement, pilots will receive on average an immediate pay increase of more than 21%.
Quality-of-life improvements account for nearly 20% of the increased value of the new contract. For example, pilots will receive a bonus if the company reassigns them from a trip they bid or requested to fly, Sicher explained.
Related Topics
LATAM Brasil Boosts Connectivity in September with 14% Capacity Increase and New Routes
For Tenth Consecutive Year: LATAM Named “South America’s Leading Airline 2025” at World Travel Awards
JetSMART Announces 66% Increase in International Flights from Lima (Peru) in 2026
Copa Airlines Launches Flights to Tucumán, Strengthening Its Presence in Argentina
Plataforma Informativa de Aviación Comercial con 13 años de trayectoria.