8.07.25 – APFA DFW Base Brief – September 2025 Staffing and Allocations

September 2025 DFW Staffing and Allocations

Thursday, August 7, 2025

This month’s discussion will be brief and will follow up on the August 2nd message regarding Reserves and flying in the upcoming months. The information charts have been updated and pertain specifically to September.

We met with the Crew Planning and Manning teams on Sunday, August 3rd for our regular monthly meeting. September marks the first of two shoulder months, during which flying activity is reduced across the system. This transition from the summer peak to the winter/holiday season leads to cancellations and equipment redistribution at all bases. Flight hours have decreased at all bases compared to last month, but the total block time remains steady year over year. Notably, DFW lost 16,000 flight hours, prompting the company to post an initial 237 Voluntary Leaves of Absence (VLOAs) for DFW.

Additionally, the reduction in flight hours, along with the traditionally quieter weather months for most of the system, resulted in a significantly lower Reserve number, which is a welcome change. Both departments indicated that a similar projection for October is anticipated, though actual operations this September will refine their final plans. While the Reserve numbers have decreased dramatically, please remember that a large proportion of the Flight Attendant workforce is still required to maintain the 1 on 3 off rotation at our base/hub size. Hiring relief from new recruits is not expected, as new hiring is now slated to begin in the spring of 2026 for the peak summer season.

Management addressed our inquiries regarding the media reports about cancellations extending through November. Contrary to what is being shared across blogs, social media, and traditional media outlets, the reduced flying schedule between September and November mirrors reductions we have seen in previous years and does not indicate a broader schedule reduction.

During the last week of July, two base representatives visited the Integrated Operations Center (IOC) to discuss crew operations with the relevant departments. We met with the Hotel/Limo desk to learn how the new Electronic Communication System (ECS) functions when requesting hotel accommodations or transportation. Please refer to the CCI message for the detailed steps to use ECS on your EFB. Our representatives aimed to observe the response times of these new systems firsthand. The Hotel/Limo department and ECS group are located in close proximity within the IOC to facilitate communication. While Hotel/Limo will still manage bookings, the ECS team will assist in organizing requests, significantly reducing response times. Due to privacy concerns—which American Airlines takes very seriously—all incoming messages via ECS will be sent exclusively to that desk. The necessary information will then be passed on to the Hotel/Limo agent to complete your request. Once your ECS request is transmitted, it is received by the ECS desk almost instantly, and a return receipt confirming that it’s in the queue will appear immediately on your EFB or personal device. Depending on whether you’re requesting hotel accommodations, transportation, or both, your request will be directed to the appropriate personnel to resolve the issue. Response times may vary from 5 to 25 minutes due to factors such as finding hotel availability for off-schedule operations. Please remember: whenever possible, limit ECS requests to one request per entire crew. Sending multiple requests does not expedite response times; instead, it slows down the system. Just like traffic congestion on the roads when multiple people use their own cars to attend the same event, carpooling in one vehicle alleviates some of the excess congestion, allowing everyone to reach their destination more efficiently.

During irregular operations (IROPS), please keep the following in mind:

1. Rebuilding your flight sequence takes time. Hotel/Limo cannot assist until Tracking has corrected your sequence (and it no longer shows “failed continuity”).
2. Know your contract! Familiarize yourself with the scheduling section of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and verify which section applies to you during the disruption. For instance, if you are obligated to stay at the airport for 3 hours, calling for assistance before fulfilling that obligation can lead to frustration when Scheduling, Tracking, or Hotel/Limo do not have answers for you yet. CBA – Section 10.J.4.c
3. Once your sequence is repaired, you may use ECS to request a Hotel or Transportation.

Lastly, we encourage your feedback on the ECS app to help us customize and improve it for your use. Your input will directly influence the functionality and efficiency of the electronic communications allowed under the CBA. ECS app > Profile > Send ECS Feedback

Important Dates:

• September Contractual Month runs from August 31 – September 30 (31 days)
• Schedule change occurs on September 3rd. DFW will operate eight banks on Monday-Wednesday, and Friday-Saturday.

• Monday, September 1: Labor Day
• September 3-8: YYZ – Toronto International Film Festival
• September 9-15: RNO Air Races
• September 27: RAP Buffalo Roundup

College Football (throughout the month): increased capacity to/from specific markets (see PBS Cover Sheet, viewable through Crew Portal  > Departments > Crew Planning  > Current Bid Sheets for more details)PBS Preliminary Manning Plan, DFW – September 2025:

As we shift away from the summer peak and into our fall shoulder season, system-wide Reserve dropped to 16.5% with DFW less than a percentage off at 17.1%. The company also opened up unpaid VLOAs for a projected 237 Flight Attendants at DFW. The line average is anticipated to be near 76.6 hours, down 2 hours from August.

In Unity,

DFW Allocations Team

Fierce advocates for over 7,300 DFW Flight Attendants