American Airlines flight attendants will picket outside headquarters on Thursday. They aren’t demanding a new contract. They already got an industry-leading one 18 months ago. Instead they’re picketing to demand ‘accountability’ and for the CEO to go.
On Monday the union’s board unanimously called for CEO Robert Isom’s removal. As one observer noted, they see the train headed in that direction and they want to take credit for the trip.
- The protest will be held Thursday, February 12 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The effort is for show – it’s worth 90 minutes of their time.
- They warn flight attendants not to park in the airline’s garages when coming to protest (“Parking available on the opposite side of Trinity Blvd, across from the entrance to Skyview 8”).
- Anyone is welcome, you don’t have to be a flight attendant or even an employee and while they prefer employees in uniform (or in union t-shirts) this is not required. I still have my APFA ‘W.A.R.’ shirt from when they wanted to strike in 2024!
All Employee Workgroups and Supporters are Welcome to Join the Protest! … Attire: Uniforms/ Union t-shirts preferred but not required.
The union argues that American “is falling dangerously behind its competitors, and the current leadership has failed to course-correct.”
- American has fallen behind competitors. Delta and United are earning strong margins and delivering billions in profits while American is breaking even. Fundamentally the got the big things wrong. They loaded up on debt to fund stock buybacks, retired planes that would have carried passengers where they wanted to go, and doubled down on a product meant to compete against ultra-low cost carriers just when passengers began spending more for better experiences. That was largely on Doug Parker, although CEO Robert Isom came out of a ‘don’t spend any more you don’t have to’ mold from Northwest Airlines.
- But they have begun to course correct. It’s just that it (1) takes time to fix 13 years of mismanagement, (2) it takes capital expenditures that their own finance operation will still be gnashing teeth over, and (3) it takes leadership that the CEO hasn’t yet shown – articulating a bold vision for what the future at American Airlines looks like, and selling that retail to employees across the system as well as explaining it to customers and investors.
When flight attendants were picketing for a better contract, the airline offered them a free bowl of chili to skip the protest. I wonder if they have anything up their sleeve this time?
We actually saw an inkling of American’s fighting spirit and articulation of a plan to compete with United, and deliver a product customers are willing to fly that’ll convince them to take the airline’s Citibank credit card, at the employee ‘State of the Airline’ meeting following the carrier’s earnings call two weeks ago. However we saw it from the Chief Commercial Officer – not yet from the CEO.
Nonetheless, flight attendants want to see change – to flex their muscles, and because under their recent industry-leading deal they won the same profit sharing terms that non-union Delta flight attendants have… but without profits, Delta cabin crew are set to receive 8 weeks of pay this week, while many American flight attendants will receive about $150.
On Thursday, February 12, 2026, please join your ten Base Presidents and four National Officers at a protest outside of American’s Headquarters, Skyview 8, to demand accountability, improved operational support, and leadership change at American Airlines.
This airline is headed down a path that puts our careers at risk. Now is the time for Flight Attendants to stand together and show up in protest. American Airlines needs real accountability, decisive action, and leadership that will put this airline back on a competitive path.
Flight attendants are right to be concerned, because their fortunes are closely tied to those of their employer. American is at no risk of going out of business, or shrinking such that current flight attendants should fear for their jobs. But they should be earning more!
And the way to do that is for management to commit to a strategy that generates revenue needed to both cover the airline’s high costs (including costly labor deals) and earn more than their cost of capital. That includes showing flight attendants and other front line employees that their service delivery matters to convincing customers that they’re willing to choose American Airlines over competitors, pay more to fly American than competitors, and buy up to American’s premium products because the experience is worth what they charge.
Strong leadership that’s focused on revenue generation, profit and profit sharing is also leadership that demands accountability from itself and from the rest of the company’s employees. Hopefully APFA union leadership understands that’s the logical conclusion of their protest at corporate headquarters this week.
If you seek an elite travel experience with like-minded thought leaders, consider an elevated trip in Delta One class.
Yes, Gary, the most important think you said above is: “they should be earning more!”
They’re just mad because Isom is trying to make them improve service.
Not only should Isom be gone but the entire AW/USAir mafia that is running AA should also be gone. The BOD that has sat back and allowed AA to become what it has become should not only be gone but should never be allowed to serve on the BOD for a publicly traded company again.
AA is the corporate version of a high functioning alcoholic, intent on improving while deeply in denial.
Second thought, strike high
@ CHRIS — I’m guessing you’ve never discussed this matter with any AA FAs. The ones I’ve spoken with are embarrassed and frustrated with AAs disregard for both customers and employees. You can’t treat your employees like crap and then expect them to treat your customers any better.
@Gene
Of course I haven’t. Willingly engaging with a flight attendant is like willingly engaging with a cop. They’re not your friends, they’re not here to help you, they dont care how you feel and its a one-sided power dynamic when something does go wrong. They have the power lie and ruin your day. It’s not worth even making eye contact with them let alone anything more than one-word responses. Flight attendants would prefer if there were never any passengers on the planes.
The unions are gonna be even more pissed when United makes AA lose the little money they’re making in the Chicago fight.
Isom had the brilliant idea of challenging United in its hometown when United can afford to lose money in Chicago and American can`t and United will have plenty of planes to overflow capacity in that market.
Go figure.
How about accountability for the overpaid old hag flight attendants who are terrible at their jobs? Look inwardly first before blaming others, FAs. You are the main reason AA sucks.
The ironic thing is that all three unions at AA pushed for this merger and wanted DUI Dougie and crew running the combined airline. When they were spreading the propaganda to the workforce, many of my co-workers drank that Kool-Aid. I couldn’t believe it, did they even have any knowledge of the lousy AW/US operation and lack of service?
Now they’re unhappy with what they so aggressively pushed for. I imagine if Horton who was so reviled by the same unions had been left in charge, this discussion wouldn’t be happening.
Over $12B in stock buybacks up in smoke while AA pays $2B+/yr in interest (6%) on $36B in total debt.
In other words, AA is spending $700M every year to service the debt from the failed buybacks. About the cost of a few 787-10s it desperately needed years ago.
Brilliant. Where is Isom going to fail up next?
A few months ago I was flying business class on AA back to the USA and for different reasons my experience was pretty awful. The main FA for my area recognized that I was justified in my unhappiness and went well above and beyond to make things right. He was so gracious, kind, and empathetic that for the first time in my life I (discretely) offered him a tip, $100. He declined but asked that I contact corporate to mention some of my issues since when the FA’s bring them up the issues are ignored.
American has some simply phenomenal people. Unfortunately management just sucks at the whole leadership thing, at least in beneficial leadership. Take management’s moves to “improve” their A319 fleet by packing in more seats, making seating tighter for both coach and first class while removing existing IFE. On just one plane type they’re managing to make things worse for everyone. That’s kind of a hallmark of American since the merger and they remain quite consistent in it.
@Mantis — You one-trick pony! Stop hating on US workers; besides, you admitted you abandoned us and moved to Asia already anyway!
The issues could easily be solved by paying all union employees more
As long as AA doesn’t go broke, I’m not all that unhappy with the situation. Right now the frequent flyer program is the only thing they have going for them. If they fixed the operation they could get away with a very low value program like Sky Pesos.
Once I burn thru my AA miles I’ll stop caring
Robert Isom is a nice guy and Parker (Former CEO) should be blamed for the mess at AA.Isom should be given 1 more year to turn AA around before the being fired. American Airlines was a great airline before the arrival of Parker and the USaiir guys.
@JoeT — Isom was President before CEO and with Parker for over a decade. So, how’s another year gonna make any difference other than for him to collect more executive compensation?
Ha, that’s rich, coming from the one note retard who 100% of the time introduces communist rhetoric into unrelated topics, and responds to me 100% of the time reminding me what continent I currently am in. Yeah, I know where I am. I still pay US taxes. I still have US passport, I still have US property. I have no dual citizenship , only one . And unlike you, I love my country. Try again, maybe this time without multiple logical fallacies.
Anyone else think the Board doesn’t have the cajones to make a move on Isom? Seems like if they wanted to oust him they would have done so already.
@Parker — It’s like expecting the oligarchs to punish Putin. They won’t. If they even speak out, they get the special tea, thrown out of windows, or their PJs shot down…
@Mantis — When you stub your toe, do you also blame failed political ideologies then? Keep filing and paying, as is your obligation, but, please, do understand, you are no patriot, sir, especially not with the way you constantly attack our people on here and elsewhere. Dr. Toboggan, at it again…
@1990 – Wow. You’ve finally done it now. You’ve gone full retard. Suggesting that someone who is expatriated is somehow less of a patriot because of it could actually be the single stupidest thing you’ve ever suggested in this forum. Which is really saying something, because you’ve got some doozies on here. But thank you for making it crystal clear even to the other lefties around these parts just how much of a complete dullard you truly are.
Some of the flight attendants are the real problem, they’ve got an industry leading wages contract, and they still provide rubbish service. Using Isom as an excuse is an absolute joke! They should just leave the company if they are so unhappy, no one is forcing them to stay.
Gary, do you proofread your articles? This one is littered with errors..
As a passenger who pays to fly first class, the employees of AA are the problem. Poor in-flight service, horrible baggage service, airport agents that could care less. Maybe management is bad. But if you want my loyalty it is the front line folks, the people I see and interact with that matter. I pay more to fly United and Delta, because I am treated better, thanked for my business and when problems occur they actually attempt to fix things. My money and loyalty go to those who provide service with a smile.
@Mark Anderson – I’m not sure how often you fly, but have you noticed an improvement recently? I for sure have. Anecdotal of course, nearly all of my flights in the past 4-5 months have featured PDBs, and the FAs generally seem like they are more eager to provide decent service. Perhaps I’m just lucky though.