American Airlines flight attendants approved a five-year labor deal, ending one of the industry’s most contentious contract negotiations and giving cabin crews raises of up to 20.5% at the start of October. Eighty-seven percent of the American Airlines flight attendants who voted approved the contract, the union said Thursday, shortly after polls closed. “This contract marks a significant milestone for our Flight Attendants, providing immediate wage increases of up to 20.5%, along with significant retroactive pay to address time spent negotiating,” said Julie Hedrick, president of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, which represents the carrier’s roughly 28,000 cabin crew members. Flight attendants are the biggest unionized work group at the Fort Worth-based airline. The contract deal is a relief for American Airlines’ leaders, which had faced a strike threat from flight attendants if the two sides could not get to a deal. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Labor Secretary Julie Su had attended negotiations in June, overseen by the National Mediation Board. More than 160 lawmakers have also pushed the NMB to get to deals across the airline industry. “Reaching an agreement for our flight attendants has been a top priority, and today, we celebrate achieving this important milestone,” American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said in a statement. Flight attendants, similar to other airline workers, have pushed for higher pay and other work-rule improvements after the Covid-19 pandemic derailed negotiations and the cost of living has skyrocketed in recent years.<br/>
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Alaska Air Group Inc. boosted its outlook for third-quarter profit on strong summer demand and lower-than-expected fuel costs. It now expects adjusted earnings per share of $2.15 to $2.25, compared with its previous estimate of $1.40 to $1.60, the carrier said in a filing on Thursday. The shares jumped 3.8% in trading before markets open in New York. “Revenue has performed better than anticipated, driven by additional revenue in July related to CrowdStrike disruptions across the industry and stronger performance in August and September,” the airline said. <br/>
An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 suffered blown tires after its pilots aborted take-off from Nashville on 12 September due to a Southwest Airlines 737 crossing the same runway. Alaska Airlines confirms the seemingly close call at Nashville International airport. The FAA is reportedly investigating but did not immediately respond to a request for comment. “Alaska Airlines flight 369 aborted take-off due to a potential traffic conflict on the runway. The Alaska aircraft, on its way to Seattle, had received clearance for take-off from air traffic control,” Seattle-based Alaska says. The event apparently happened shortly after 09:00 local time. “We’re grateful for the expertise of our pilots who immediately applied the brakes to prevent the incident from escalating,” the airline adds. “The crew taxied the aircraft off the runway and close to the terminal where the tires deflated due to heat build-up from the rapid stop.” Alaska flight 369 was operated by a 737-800. Media reports say a Southwest jet operating flight 2029 – seemingly a flight to Jacksonville – had crossed the end of runway, after receiving clearance to do so from air traffic control.<br/>