by Donald Wood
Last updated: 12:05 PM ET, Fri May 19, 2023

The union representing pilots working for American Airlines
announced that the two sides had reached a contract agreement in principle on
Friday.

According to Reuters.com,
the Allied Pilots Association (APA) said pilot representatives and American
officials were finalizing the details of a new contract that would then be
presented to the airline’s board for approval.

While APA representatives did not reveal details of the
deal, sources told Reuters the new contract is four years in length and
features “pay rates comparable to the wages secured by pilots at Delta Air
Lines.”

In March, Delta pilots approved a new four-year contract that
includes over $7
billion in cumulative increases in pay and benefits, marking a 34 percent
raise and setting a benchmark for other carriers in the United States.

The new deal between American and the APA also includes scheduling
improvements that offer pilots a better work-life balance. The agreement comes
just weeks after APA officials and participating members approved a strike
mandate as part of an effort to secure higher wages and better working
conditions.

Earlier this month, pilots from United Airlines picketed at
several major American airports, urging company officials to increase their pay
after working for the last four years without a deal while negotiating a new
contract.

The U.S. is facing a pilot shortage, with over 10,000 new pilots
needed to offset retirements and meet demand. American’s pilots’ union worked
to get the deal done to avoid any potential issues during the upcoming summer
travel season.

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