6.07.26 – APFA DCA Base Brief – July 2026 Staffing and Allocations

July 2026 DCA Staffing and Allocations

Sunday, June 7, 2026

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56,745 total flying hours (DCA, IAD, BWI) (+1378 hours month -over-month) (+2689 hour year-over-year)

Year-over-year block hours has increased by 2.7% and headcount has increased by 66 Flight Attendants.

• July is not a flex month
• Contractual targeted range 70-90 hours
• The opening line average is 82.1%, compared with 81.5% last July
• DCA’s most senior Reserve for July has a system seniority number of 26,315 (February 05, 2025, hire date)
• No VLOA’s
• 69 New Hires – 32 new hires will be able to bid in PBS, and 37 new hires will be signed a Reserve schedule (this will be the conclusion of the new hire program for 2026 with the last class joining DCA July 6, 2026)

APFA leadership participated in our monthly Staffing and Allocations call with the Company on June 3. During the discussion, we were advised that July is considered the “Super Bowl” of the airline industry, with all hands on deck for what is expected to be the busiest travel period of the year. Increased passenger demand, strong revenue projections, and the potential for weather-related disruptions all contribute to the operational challenges anticipated throughout the month.

DCA continues to maintain one of the highest headcounts ever for our base, largely due to the significant number of new hire Flight Attendants assigned to the base. While we would prefer to see a lower Reserve percentage and more Lineholders to better balance the increase in block hours and PBS demand, that will not be the case for July.

Our Reserve percentage for July is 0.8% higher than the system average. Additionally, our PBS line average is slightly below the company average and marginally lower than it was in July 2025.

As we do each month, we encourage everyone to understand their relative seniority when bidding in PBS and to carefully review their bid preferences. If you are likely to be awarded a higher line average, be sure to include sequences you are genuinely interested in flying so your award better reflects your preferences.

The Company also advised that Reserve percentages and line averages are expected to improve beginning in September. In addition, Voluntary Leaves of Absence (VLOAs) may become available, providing additional flexibility and relief as we transition into the fall schedule.

Important Dates

• July Bid Month: July 2 – July 31
• Schedule Change: July 2
• DCA airspace will be suspended from 10 AM to 1 PM for the USA’s 250th anniversary celebration: Friday, July 3
• Independence Day: Saturday, July 4
• FIFA World Cup: June 11 – July 19

Allocations Notes

• Total sequences 957 (DCA, IAD, BWI):
  • 4 FA sequences: 454 total
  • 3 FA sequences: 503 total
• DCA Sequences: 895
• ODANS:
  • BOS operates 1 day
  • CHS operates 2 days
  • RDU operates 21 days
• DCA
  • No Charter/honor flights
  • LAX high time turns operates 29 days (no change of aircraft and one hour on ground)
  • LAS high time one days operates 29 days (no change of aircraft and one hour on ground)
  • PHX ‘pink eye’ 30 days
  • NAS turns operate 25 days
  • Canada Layovers YYC, YYZ
  •  NIPD Layovers – BDA, CUN, KIN, MGA, NAS, POS, QRO, STX
  • 2 Spanish speaker sequences
• BWI
  • 46 sequences
  • 3410 flying hours
  • 29 DFW one days (14:45 report)
  • No Canada or NIPD layovers
  • 14 CUN Layovers
• IAD
  • 16 sequences
  • LAX ‘pink eye’ operates 29 days
  • NIPD – 1 sequence
  • 3 High time 2-day trips

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Sequences with Sit Times of 2.31 Hours or More

• DCA: 345 (combined 1,2,3 sits in a sequence)
• BWI: 18
• IAD: 6

Scheduled Duty Days:

• <8 hours: 46.1%
• 8-10 hours: 27.6%
• 10-12 hours: 22.0%
• >12 hours: 4.3%

Scheduled Legs in Duty Day:

• 1-leg: 34.6%
• 2-legs: 51.3%
• 3-legs: 13.0%
• 4-legs: 1.1%

Scheduled Layover Rest:

• < 11 hours: 0.3%
• 11-12 hours: 2.4%
• 12-14 hours: 29.7%
• 14-16 hours: 19.9%
• 18-20 hours: 10.0%
• 20-24 hours: 7.8%
• >24 hours: 12.9%

Scheduled Sit Times:

• 2-2.5 hours: 13.9%
• 2.5-3 hours: 9.7%
• >3 hours: 2.5%

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July 2026 System Reserve Seniority

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Congratulations New Hires!

Welcome, Classes 26-11, 26-12, and 26-13!

Congratulations on reaching this exciting milestone and beginning your Flight Attendant career. As you prepare to take to the skies, know that you are joining a profession built on safety, teamwork, professionalism, and service.

This journey will bring challenges, unforgettable experiences, lifelong friendships, and opportunities to see the world. Through it all, remember that you are part of a strong Flight Attendant community that supports one another and takes pride in the work we do every day.

We wish you success throughout training and beyond. Stay confident, stay adaptable, keep learning, and welcome aboard! ✈️

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Update on the Me@Work Application

Last month, we provided an update regarding the Me@Work application and the Notice of Dispute (NOD) filed on behalf of DCA Flight Attendants seeking a cease-and-desist order. Following the Dispute Resolution Conference (DRC), the company responded that it does not believe a contractual violation exists and maintains that it has the right to implement the Me@Work application.

While we disagree with the company’s position, we will continue working with company leadership to ensure the application is administered fairly, consistently, and equitably. We will also continue advocating for protections that prevent Flight Attendants from being subject to disciplinary action based on Me@Work metrics or scores, particularly when those scores fall below average.

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Crew Member Access Point (CMAP) Coming to DCA and IAD

Beginning the week of June 22, both DCA and IAD will begin rolling out a new process for authorizing crew member access into the sterile area of the airport. The program, known as the Crew Member Access Point (CMAP), will utilize the same biometric facial comparison technology currently used in the TSA PreCheck® Touchless ID program to positively identify crew members as they pass through Known Crewmember (KCM) checkpoints.

During the initial testing phase, participation in the program will be completely voluntary. Flight Attendants should continue to carry and maintain all required identification and credentials when utilizing KCM.

American Airlines is expected to provide additional information later this month as further guidance is received from the TSA. We will continue to share updates as they become available.

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Parking Update

The transition to the new crew parking lot has created challenges for many Flight Attendants, particularly during midday hours when the lot has frequently reached capacity. The airport authority (MWAA) has advised that the former crew parking lot will serve as the designated overflow parking area and remains available for use when the new lot is full.

We have also raised concerns regarding the need for a shelter and additional security cameras at the new parking lot. MWAA has informed us that efforts are currently underway to address the shelter issue.

Please continue to share your feedback and experiences regarding both the new parking lot and the employee shuttle bus service. We remain in regular communication with DCA Inflight and airport leadership and will continue advocating for improvements that enhance accessibility, convenience, and safety for all Flight Attendants.

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