American Airlines flight attendants protest as CEO meets with frustrated staff
American Airlines flight attendants’ union plans to hold a picket outside the airline’s headquarters on Thursday, demanding stronger leadership as the carrier struggles to match rivals Delta Air Lines and United Airlines in profitability and on-time performance.
Ahead of the protest, CEO Robert Isom addressed employees in a video from the airline’s Fort Worth, Texas, headquarters, highlighting expected improvements for the year, including higher profits, better schedules, and upgraded cabins. “We look forward to working with all of you to make it happen,” he said.
The picket follows a vote of no confidence in Isom by the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, representing 28,000 cabin crew members—the union’s first such action against the CEO. Pilots’ and mechanics’ unions have also expressed concerns about reliability and financial performance, requesting meetings with the airline’s board to discuss these issues. The protest is notable because it is happening outside of contract negotiations.
Isom, who became CEO nearly four years ago, has been leading an overhaul aimed at modernizing cabins, expanding airport lounges, and adding services like free Wi-Fi. Last month, the airline forecast higher revenue and adjusted earnings per share of up to $2.70 in 2026, compared with just 36 cents in 2025.
Despite these efforts, American has lagged behind competitors. In the first 11 months of 2025, it ranked eighth in on-time performance, with a 73.7% punctuality rate. Its net income of $111 million last year fell far short of Delta’s $5 billion and United’s $3.3 billion, resulting in smaller profit-sharing pools for employees. Crew members have also criticized the airline for difficulties recovering from severe winter storms, leaving some without accommodations.
The union said in a statement that the airline’s current trajectory “puts our careers at risk” and called for “real accountability, decisive action, and leadership that will put this airline back on a competitive path.”
Isom has been working to boost morale across the company, speaking last week to about 6,000 managers at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. “It’s incumbent on all of us to build on our progress … and to ensure that we grow profitability so American is around for the next 100 years,” he said.
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