American Airlines pilots blast return of ‘toxic culture’

American Airlines Group Inc.’s pilots union, an early backer of the carrier’s merger with US Airways, blasted the return of “toxic” labour relations, a substandard product and violations of their contract. American executives can no longer rely on the excuse that they need more time to bring everything into order since the two companies merged in December 2013, the Allied Pilots Association board of directors said in a March 4 letter to CEO Doug Parker. Many of the airline’s middle managers are “misaligned” with Parker’s call at a recent leadership conference for better labor relations that will bring all employees in line with a push to make American the best airline, the letter said. The missive may herald the first schism between the merged American and its unions, which broke with previous management during the airline’s bankruptcy to support then-US Airways CEO Parker in his bid to combine the carriers. The bankrupt American was known for poor labour relations that kept the pilots and management from reaching a new contract in 10 years of talks.<br/>