8.02.25 – APFA DFW Base Brief – September VLOAs/Reserve Numbers

Saturday, August 2, 2025

As September PBS bidding opens soon, we wanted to provide a brief update.

The planning and manning specialists from APFA DFW have been in ongoing discussions with the company about Reserve utilization. However, these discussions have not resulted in any changes for the long-term future. That said, we welcome the announcement of September VLOAs from yesterday’s CCI, as short-term relief is appreciated. While we won’t have exact numbers until Sunday, August 3rd, we are grateful that the planning and manning department has worked diligently to adjust headcount for leaves as an option. Our next regular meeting is scheduled for August 3rd, and any pertinent information regarding the September schedules will be emailed in the regularly scheduled base brief no later than August 7th. The VLOA numbers and bids will open at noon on August 3rd.

Regarding Reserves, American has not added any new hires systemwide over the past couple of months. We have not been informed whether hiring will resume or if it will continue to be postponed. Either way, we expect more information on this topic on August 3rd. The lack of new hires will continue to negatively impact rotations and transfers, affecting the Flight Attendant base percentage standings. With the headcount currently stagnant, the 1 on 3 off rotation will now include more senior colleagues, as those gaining seniority are no longer subject to the 1 on 1 off rotation. The DFW FA population has decreased year over year by 94 people, and transfers have changed the seniority standings for many, as reflected in the dashboard percentages from PBS. Our current FA population stands at 7,305.

When the DFW base experienced a loss of 20,000 hours in the bid sheet for August, that equated to approximately 267 Flight Attendants at the opening line average. Conversely, the flying hours through the DFW HUB increased, and management retained all staff to mitigate the risk of an IROPS event. In summary, I’ll refer to this as DFW 911.

Looking ahead, September and October are typically months with reduced schedules across all bases. September, in particular, faces significant reductions, especially following the Labor Day holiday, which marks the end of the summer season. Additionally, there have been reports in the media regarding American Airlines flight cancellations extending through November, which have circulated on multiple social media platforms. Your DFW team is closely monitoring this situation and is demanding a viable plan from the company as we move forward. That being said, bids and Reserves may be erratic for the foreseeable future. We will do everything we can to minimize the impact on our base.

In Unity,

Robin, Luis, Mike, Katy, and Bobby

Fierce advocates for over 7,300 DFW Flight Attendants