Chicago, May 19 (Reuters) – The Allied Pilots Association (APA), representing over 13,000 pilots at American Airlines, announced on Friday that they have reached an agreement in principle on a new contract, which will be presented to the union’s board for approval after completing contractual language.
While specific details were not disclosed, sources familiar with the matter revealed that the four-year contract includes pay rates similar to those of Delta Air Lines and addresses scheduling improvements to enhance work-life balance for pilots. This development comes in the wake of Delta’s pilots recently ratifying a contract with substantial pay and benefits increases totaling over $7 billion over four years.
With airlines anticipating a busy summer travel season, pilot recruitment has become a priority, and American, Delta, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines are expected to hire around 8,000 pilots collectively this year. According to Jefferies analysts, the United States currently faces a shortage of approximately 10,000 pilots, a situation that is projected to persist until 2027.
