7.08.26 – APFA DCA Base Brief – August 2026 Staffing and Allocations

August 2026 DCA Staffing and Allocations

Wednesday, July 8, 2026

54,462 total flying hours (DCA, IAD, BWI) (-2283 hours month -over-month) (+2714 hour year-over-year)

Year-over-year block hours has increased by 5.7% and headcount has increased by 61 Flight Attendants.

August is not a flex month
Contractual targeted range 70-90 hours
The opening line average is 76.6 compared with 77.4 last August
DCA’s most senior Reserve for August has a system seniority number of 27,354 (April 16, 2025 hire date)
24 VLOA’s
No New Hires
DCA continues to trend positively compared to last year, we are up 52 line holders while our Reserve percentage has decreased by 2.6% with 10 fewer reserves than August of 2025

Our current projected line average is 0.1 below the system average, additionally the company is offering voluntary leaves of absence (VLOA’s) which is generally a positive indication staffing levels are well balanced, this should allow PBS to run more efficiently by keeping the line average close to the projected opening average of 76.6 hours and if that balance holds we could see fewer bidding constraints when PBS runs by providing greater flexibility and less forced time during the award process.

Important Dates

August Bid Month: August 1 – August 30
Schedule Change – August 5
Labor Day – Monday, September 7

Allocations Notes

Total sequences 892 (DCA, IAD, BWI):
- 4 FA sequences: 432 total
- 3 FA sequences: 460 total
DCA Sequences: 819
ODANS:
- CHS operates 19 days
- PVD operates 18 days
- PWM operates 26 days
- RDU operates 2 days
DCA
- One charter flight sequence 12832
- LAX high time turns operates 30 days (no change of aircraft and one hour on ground)
- LAS high time one days operates 4 days
- PHX high time one day operates 26 days
- PHX ‘pink eye’ 30 days
- NAS turns operate 26 days
- Canada Layovers YVR, YYC, YYZ
- NIPD Layovers -RON AUA, BDA, BGI, CUN, KIN, POS, PUJ, STX
- No Spanish speaker sequences
BWI
- 52 sequences
- DFW turns operating 4 days
- CLT turn operating 1 day
- Three leg turns operating 18 days
- NIPD – 4 sequences
- 12 + hours two-day trips
- No Canada Layovers
IAD
- 21 sequences
- DFW turns operating 28 days
- LAX ‘Pink Eye’ operates 4 days
- 12+ hours Two Days 3 sequences

Sequences with Sit Times of 2.31 Hours or More

DCA: 256
BWI: 24
IAD: 3

Scheduled Duty Days:

<8 hours: 45.7%
8-10 hours: 27.8%
10-12 hours: 22.3%
>12 hours: 4.2%

Scheduled Legs in Duty Day:

1-leg: 33.3%
2-legs: 51.6%
3-legs: 13.8%
4-legs: 1.3%

Scheduled Layover Rest:

< 11 hours: 0.3%
11-12 hours: 4.3%
12-14 hours: 26.4%
14-16 hours: 21.6%
18-20 hours: 10.0%
20-24 hours: 7.7%
>24 hours: 11.5%

Scheduled Sit Times:

2-2.5 hours: 15.4%
2.5-3 hours: 9.7%
>3 hours: 2.5%

August 2026 System Reserve Seniority

Congratulations New Hires!

Welcome, Classes 26-14, 26-15, 26-16, and 26-17!

As we conclude our 2026 New Hire Program, I want to once again congratulate all of our new Flight Attendants who have joined the American Airlines family and the DCA base. While some have transferred to other bases, many have chosen to make DCA their home. We wish each of you continued success as you begin this exciting new chapter in your career.

Our next opportunity to come together will be at the Off-Probation Meetings, which are scheduled to begin in mid-August 2026. We look forward to celebrating this important milestone with you and reaffirming our commitment to supporting you throughout your career. Congratulations once again, and welcome aboard!