American Airlines agreed to pay triple to pilots impacted by the airline’s fourth of July weekend scheduling glitch that caused thousands of flights to get dropped. Pilots will also receive double pay for “specific holiday periods” as part of the agreement to resolve the scheduling issue.
The scheduling platform glitch caused pilots to cancel approximately 12,000 flights from their schedules, according to the Allied Pilots Association (APA).
“We’re pleased to have reached an agreement with the APA and appreciate their partnership in coming to a resolution quickly to take care of our pilots, our team, and our customers,” American Airlines said in a statement.
The glitch was the most recent incident to affect travelers. A shortage of pilots and air traffic controllers has also contributed to the delays and cancellations.
APA’s president, Capt. Ed Sicher was upbeat about those negotiations and saw the extra-pay agreement following the glitch as a positive sign for contract negotiations.
In a message to the union’s roughly 15,000 pilots, Sicher stated, “I am optimistic it will provide a springboard for us to wrap up our Section 6 negotiations and secure the new collective bargaining agreement that we have been waiting far too long to achieve.”
A similar issue occurred in 2017 when a technical problem allowed American Airlines’ pilots to schedule vacation during the busy December holiday.
Contract negotiations between American Airlines and the APA have led to one of the most fraught relationships in the industry, with pilots struggling to create a work-life balance amid grueling schedules.
American Airlines recently offered pilots raises of nearly 17% through 2024.
