American Airlines has reached an updated four-year tentative agreement with its pilots that would rival the new deal United Airlines pilots have negotiated.
The negotiating committee of the Allied Pilots Association (APA) will now take the agreement-in-principal before its board of directors. If board approval is achieved, the agreement would go to the full APA membership for ratification.
APA and American management previously came to a tentative agreement in May. But the union balked after United's pilots negotiated a more favorable deal in mid-July. If the United contract is ratified, its pilots are to receive 34.5% to 40.2% pay rate increases over the four-year lifespan of the deal. Pay rates will increase by 13.8% to 18.7% on the date of signing, based on the aircraft type each pilot flies, then continue to rise more gradually over the following years.
The United contract also includes improvements for pilots related to job security, work rules, retirement, benefits, and work-life balance.
Under the revised American deal, raises for pilots would be retroactive to January rather than May and rates would be equal to those achieved by United and Delta pilots. The deal also changed numerous other provisions, including ones related to 401k contributions, sick leave, life insurance and the number of jump seats on aircraft.
Several of the negotiated provisions are contingent on United pilots ratifying their agreement by the end of the year.
"We appreciate the Allied Pilots Association for its collaborative work to reach an updated agreement on a four-year contract for American's pilots. It's a contract we're proud of and one our pilots deserve," American said in an emailed statement Friday.