12.05.24 – AA Plans Certification of the 787-9P With Lower Minimum Staffing

AA Plans Certification of the 787-9P With Lower Minimum Staffing

Thursday, December 5, 2024

This week, American management made clear their intention to work with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to certify the new 787-9P aircraft with a minimum of seven (7) Flight Attendants, moving our minimum requirements on this aircraft closer to our US competitors who have similar equipment and seating configurations. Management claims that this will only occur in the event of a Flight Attendant becoming ill or injured while on layover and will allow for the rest of the crew to work back. In normal operations, the new 787-9P will be staffed with nine (9) Flight Attendants.

This minimum staffing is in alignment with other carriers 787 minimum staffing, namely United Airlines, who have the ability to staff their 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10 series with an FAA minimum of seven (7) Flight Attendants.

This is yet another unacceptable erosion of Flight Attendant staffing. 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.

Further, the FAA mandates that suite doors remain locked open during taxi, takeoff, and landing, which adds a critical new safety task for Flight Attendants. It is impossible to perform these additional duties without compromising safety and service standards.

APFA categorically rejects the changes to the minimum crew requirement on the new 787-9P. 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.

Our safety, workload, and working conditions are non-negotiable. If you have concerns or questions about FAA certification, please contact Bobbi Wells, VP of Inflight, at [email protected].