American Airlines pilot union moves toward seeking federal mediation as contract talks drag on

American Airlines Pilots’ Union union is taking steps toward seeking federal mediation in contract negotiations as talks with the country’s largest carrier drag on, according to a note from the labor group.

The Allied Pilots Association, which represents some 15,000 American Airlines aviators, said in a message to pilots last week that its board unanimously approved a motion for the union to prepare an application for National Mediation Board intervention in its talks with the company, though it had not filed as of Monday afternoon.

Major pilot groups around the U.S., which also include those at Southwest, United, Delta and FedEx have struggled to reach agreements as they seek pay increases amid high inflation and better schedules after a rollercoaster pandemic that saw flight hours slashed and then surge.

Several groups have already turned to mediation. Pilots for those carriers have been picketing in recent months.

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