The flight attendants are increasingly frustrated that pilots won huge pay raises last year while they continue to work for wages that, in some cases, have not increased in several years.

They argue that they have not been rewarded for working through the pandemic and being responsible for the safety of passengers.

The unions are calling Tuesday’s protests a national day of action. It is not a strike.

Federal law makes it difficult for airline unions to conduct legal strikes, which can be delayed or blocked by federal mediators, the president and Congress. Mediators have already turned down one request by flight attendants at American Airlines to begin a countdown to a strike; the union plans to ask again next month.

“We appreciate and respect our flight attendants’ right to picket and understand that is their way of telling us the importance of getting a contract done — and we hear them,” American Airlines said in a statement Tuesday. 

Flight attendants remain the last group standing at the negotiation table with the Forth Worth, Texas-based airline.  Pilots for American Airlines reached a new contract agreement in August featuring big pay raises and bonuses. Soon after in December, American reached an agreement with roughly 15,000 passenger service agents, the Dallas Morning News reported at the time. 

Tuesday’s protests were organized by the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), which represents crews at United Airlines and several other carriers; the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, the union of crews at American, and the Transport Workers Union, which represents crews at Southwest and other airlines.

United Airlines in a statement Tuesday said that its first negotiation session has been scheduled for March 19 by a federal mediator requested by the AFA. “We’re looking forward to working with AFA to narrow the issues so that we can continue to work toward an industry-leading agreement for our flight attendants,” the company said. 

Alaska Airlines said that its leadership and the AFA are continuing to bargain and meet with a mediator, describing discussions as “productive,” in a statement Tuesday. “With six recently closed labor deals at the company and a tentative agreement reached in January for a new contract for our technicians, we’re hopeful to do the same for our flight attendants as soon as possible,” the airline said.

Southwest Airlines said in a statement issued Tuesday, “We reached an industry-leading Tentative Agreement with TWU 556 in October 2023 and are scheduled to meet next week with the union and the National Mediation Board to continue working toward an agreement that benefits our Flight Attendants and Southwest.”

Transport Workers Union Local 556, the union representing Southwest Airlines flight attendants, overwhelmingly rejected a proposed contract agreement by the airline in December.

Credits: U.S. Airlines

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“The 10 biggest booking weeks of our history have been the first 10 weeks of this year,” said United Airlines chief executive Scott Kirby, who described current travel demand as “remarkable.”

Robust travel demand represented a bright spot for airlines in presentations Tuesday even as United and it’s two chief rivals, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, each estimated a $400 million hit to first-quarter profits because of surging jet fuel costs due to the Middle East war.

The price of jet fuel, the industry’s second biggest expense after labor, has risen sharply following a roughly 40 percent surge in crude prices since the February 28 start of the US-Israeli military operation against Iran.

Airline analysts have warned that the price rises could dent profitability if carriers eat the cost or pass them on to consumers, eroding demand.

But as of mid-March, consumers remain eager to fly.

“Sales for us have been very, very strong all quarter long, most particularly starting off in the March spring season, which is typically the season when travel bookings really start to accumulate,” said Delta CEO Ed Bastian, noting that eight of the company’s 10 highest sales days in history came during the quarter.

Bastian reported broad-based growth in Delta’s domestic market. By contrast the company has seen “a very modest decline in Europe since the war started.” 

But Bastian said less than 20 percent of the carrier’s transatlantic revenues is from point-of-sale Europe.

Delta raised its first-quarter revenue forecast, while confirming its profit outlook.

American Airlines also lifted its revenue growth outlook to more than 10 percent from the prior range of 7-10 percent. 

However, American cautioned that its earnings per share would be at the “lower end of guidance.” 

Besides the jet fuel hit, officials at American also pointed to a $200 million drag due to flight cancelations and disruptions from storms.

American CEO Robert Isom described demand as “incredibly strong.”

In light of higher fuel costs, United decided last week to trim about one percent of capacity in May and June, said Kirby, who noted that the reduction would hit unpopular flying times, such as red eyes and mid-week.

Airlines are also beginning to pass higher jet fuel costs through to consumers.

“The industry has so far done a good job of moving at good speed on fuel,” said Delta Chief Commercial Officer Joe Esposito.

Shares of Delta jumped 6.6 percent in Tuesday trading, while United gained 3.2 percent and American 3.5 percent.

Credits: US Airlines

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