American Airlines is willing to match the pilot pay and benefits that its competitor Delta Air Lines ratified last week for its own employees, Robert Isom, the company’s CEO, said yesterday.
American Airlines pilots want industry-leading contract
The statements came amid wage negotiations between the company and its workers, as is the case at other major carriers in the United States. In a statement sent to the company’s pilots, Isom said that American Airlines is prepared to match the terms agreed at Delta.
American Airlines pilots have been trying to negotiate a new labour contract since before the pandemic began, but no agreement has yet been reached. However, the current situation and the forecast growth in demand for pilots in the coming years create an ideal situation for them to ask for contractual improvements.
As usual, they all want an industry-leading contract, both in terms of pay and general conditions. In that context, the agreement reached between Delta and its pilots has already set a new benchmark for other negotiations on working conditions.
Proposal to American Airlines pilots
In the midst of this struggle, Robert Isom directly communicated the offer that the company would be willing to make. The text states that pilots would receive an average wage increase of 21% during the first year of their contract. The increase would reach 40% in the fourth year.
If overall remuneration is taken into account, narrow-body aircraft captains would earn up to $475.000 a year ($135.000 more than now), while wide-body captains would receive up to $590.000 a year ($170.000 more than now). Of course, these figures would not apply to all, as each pilot’s salary varies according to his or her experience.
Isom called to “get this deal done”. If it were to materialise, it would be a very beneficial deal for American Airlines pilots and would set a new benchmark, at least in the United States market. However, the wage increase would also increase labour costs, so an impact on airfares could not be ruled out.
