Pilots and Flight Attendants Criticize American Airlines’ Performance

Pilots and flight attendants at American Airlines have made their frustrations with company leadership public. The union representing 28,000 flight attendants issued a unanimous vote of no confidence in CEO Robert Isom on Monday. On Friday, the pilots’ union, which represents 16,000 pilots, asked to meet with the board, saying American is "on an underperforming path and has failed to define an identity or a strategy to correct course." Neither union is negotiating a new contract with the airline.

The rebukes come as American has lost substantial ground to Delta Air Lines and United Airlines in recent years. Data from S&P Capital IQ show that in 2024 and 2025 Delta earned about 56 percent of the U.S. airline industry’s total profits, United about 43 percent and American about 6 percent, despite American being the largest carrier by number of flights and passengers.

Aviation experts also noted that Delta and United operate on more lucrative routes and that American has not invested as much in premium seats, a growing source of profit.

United States

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