Pilots for American Airlines picketed outside Terminal C at DFW Airport Thursday as they seek progress on their next contract. Members of the Allied Pilots Association have been working without a contract since 2020.
"We saw a Christmas travel season where we actually did better than a lot of other carriers, and that's great. That's because our pilots stepped up," says Captain Dennis Tajer.
Tajer says pilots were left stranded in 2020 because of scheduling issues and minor weather events in some cities that then led to problems across the network.
"We're very concerned if they don't change the way they schedule, they're going to repeat these meltdowns," he says. "We're actually out here in support of our passengers. We want a reliable operation, and we need the tools to get there."
Thursday morning, American's chief financial officer said the airline was on pace to return to profitability in March, and capacity for 2022 would reach 95% of the level in 2019.
"Right now, management is selling tickets. We want to make sure they're able to actually close the deal with our passengers as we fly them this spring and summer," Tajer says. "That comes through getting a contract done that bolsters the reliability of American Airlines."
American Airlines says negotiations are ongoing. The carrier says proposals being discussed include pay raises, enhanced benefits and profit-sharing, and "significant quality of life improvements."
Tajer says scheduling issues can lower morale for pilots who might miss time with family because they are on-call, but he also says they could hurt American long-term. Tajer says a new contract could help the airline draw younger pilots who might otherwise choose to sign with another carrier.
"This is our time to surge ahead of the competition. We're ready for that," Tajer says.
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