American Airlines Faces Union Backlash Over Staffing Reductions for the New Boeing 787-9P

American Airlines, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is facing criticism after notifying its flight attendants about plans to lower the minimum staffing requirement for its upcoming Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, branded as the 787-9P. This decision aligns with the airline’s strategy to introduce a new premium-heavy cabin layout on select aircraft, but the announcement has sparked outrage among flight attendants, who argue that the proposal is unrealistic and compromises safety.

A Move Toward Reduced Staffing

American Airlines revealed its intention to work with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to certify the seating configuration on the 787-9P. Currently, the airline operates its 787-9s with nine flight attendants but is certified to operate with eight in emergencies. However, the new plan would reduce the minimum staffing level on the Boeing 787-9P to just seven attendants. This reduction has drawn criticism from the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), a union representing 28,000 of the airline’s flight crew members. The APFA has labeled the decision as “unrealistic and unsafe.”

Enhanced Premium Layout: Introducing Flagship Suites

The criticism from the union comes amid American Airlines’ rollout of new premium seating on its 787-9P. These new premium seats, branded as Flagship Suites, are a significant upgrade in passenger comfort, featuring fully enclosed spaces with privacy doors, large screens, and increased storage. The airline first announced this design in 2022 for both the Boeing 787-9 and Airbus A321XLR aircraft. Although the original timeline forecasted delivery for 2023, delays have pushed the debut to 2024.

The enhanced Flagship Business cabin on the 787-9P will house 51 suites in a 1-2-1 configuration, along with 32 newly designed premium economy recliner seats equipped with winged headrests. This design significantly increases the premium seating on the 787-9P compared to its predecessors, which include 30 Flagship Business seats and 21 premium economy seats.

This expanded premium configuration is why the new aircraft variant is labeled the 787-9P, with the “P” denoting its premium focus. While these upgrades enhance the passenger experience, they also place additional demands on flight attendants tasked with maintaining service and safety standards in this premium-heavy layout.

Safety Concerns Take Center Stage

The APFA has been vocal in its opposition to the staffing reductions. According to the union, the increase to 51 private business suites brings a heavier workload for attendants. Each suite requires additional attention, including ensuring that suite doors remain open during taxi, takeoff, and landing, as mandated by FAA regulations. The union insists that reducing the crew size will make it impossible to maintain safety and service standards.

“This is yet another unacceptable erosion of Flight Attendant staffing,” the APFA stated. “It is unrealistic and unsafe to expect that seven flight attendants can adequately serve and ensure safety under the new configuration of the 787-9P, especially with an increase to 51 private Business Class Suites, with each seat bringing added Flight Attendant workload in an already understaffed cabin.”

American Airlines’ Response

American Airlines has defended its proposal, emphasizing that no immediate changes are being made to current staffing plans. The airline reaffirmed its commitment to staffing the 787-9 with nine flight attendants, as is the current standard. However, the carrier noted that it is seeking FAA approval to align the 787-9P minimum staffing requirements with the FAA’s mandated minimum of seven attendants.

“There are no changes to the staffing plans of our Boeing 787 aircraft, which will continue to be staffed and scheduled for nine flight attendants,” the airline stated. “Consistent with other major network carriers, we will work with the FAA to determine if the Boeing 787-9P aircraft minimum can align with the FAA minimum of seven flight attendants — which would only apply in the rare circumstance that a flight attendant is ill, injured or otherwise not able to fly a flight for which they are scheduled.”

The airline argues that this adjustment would provide greater operational flexibility in the event of last-minute crew shortages, helping to prevent long delays and cancellations. Such disruptions are especially impactful on long-haul international flights.

Union Rejects Certification Process

While American Airlines plans to collaborate with the FAA for certification, the APFA has categorically refused to support the process. The union has urged its members to voice their concerns directly to the airline’s management.

“APFA categorically rejects the changes to the minimum crew requirement on the new 787-9P,” the union said. “We will not participate in the certification process for these changes, however, we will attend to represent our Members’ interests and ensure the FAA and all interested parties are aware of the safety concerns surrounding the proposed staffing on this new aircraft configuration.”

Balancing Flexibility and Safety

American Airlines believes that the proposed staffing changes with the Boeing 787-9P operations would enhance its ability to handle operational disruptions without significantly affecting the passenger experience. According to Simple Flying, the airline maintains that the rare application of a seven-attendant minimum would only occur under exceptional circumstances, such as when a crew member is unable to operate a scheduled flight.

“As we do today, we will work to replace the flight attendant to maintain all nine positions, but adjusting the minimum requirement would provide additional flexibility to avoid lengthy delays and canceling flights — particularly long-haul international flights that have an outsized impact on our customers.”

What are your thoughts about this? Let us know in the comments section below!

Sources:

• Simple Flying
• Featured image by Tomás Del Coro

Youssef Yahya

Youssef Yahya is the CEO and Founder of Aviation for Aviators, a platform dedicated to the aviation industry. With over 3 years of experience as an aviation writer, Youssef is passionate about sharing his insights on aviation, entrepreneurship, and the broader business landscape. As a Teaching Assistant in Entrepreneurship at Nile University, he also nurtures the next generation of entrepreneurs. When he’s not exploring the skies or business ventures, you can find him saying, ‘Drag your coffee, and let’s talk aviation, entrepreneurship, and football.’

You might also like:

• Kite – the origin of our current airplane
• Cargojet 767 Overruns the Runway After Landing at Vancouver International Airport
• The Functioning of PAPI Lights
• Exploring the Exciting and Dynamic World of Aviation Careers: Opportunities, Challenges, and Rewards
• Good bye Alitalia, now what?