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

August 2026 Staffing and Allocations

Wednesday, July 8, 2026

Hello DFW,

For the first time in recent memory, we are seeing Voluntary Leaves of Absence (VLOAs) offered during a summer month. This came as a surprise, as VLOAs have traditionally been reserved for the slower shoulder seasons. However, Management elected to begin the summer schedule earlier than usual this year, increasing flying ahead of the Labor Day holiday. By extending the peak summer schedule on the front end, the transition into the fall schedule has also shifted earlier than normal. As a result, VLOAs are being offered across all bases for the month of August.

VLOAs are an effective tool for balancing temporary staffing needs as flying schedules and aircraft assignments evolve. While August can still present operational challenges, these leaves provide flexibility for Flight Attendants while also helping the company better align staffing with reduced flying. Historically, because DFW is such a large base, the initial VLOA offerings often increase once bidding closes and final staffing needs are calculated.

Reserve staffing continues to be a major topic of discussion. The good news is that DFW’s reserve numbers are lower than they were this time last year, both in total reserves and overall reserve percentage. This reflects the continued reliability of our operation and supports the ongoing trend toward reducing reserve staffing levels. That said, transfers into and out of the base, along with newer Flight Attendants entering different reserve rotations, can still impact individual seniority positions. Your APFA representatives continue to advocate for the lowest reserve percentages possible while holding Management accountable for the staffing numbers they assign.

Looking ahead, we hope to have more meaningful data to share in September regarding the impact of the 13-bank operation. Preliminary feedback from Management remains optimistic that, if current trends continue, the new structure could contribute to further reductions in reserve requirements.

As we move toward the end of the summer schedule, we are beginning to see the seasonal reduction of some International Premium Destination (IPD) flying, including the conclusion of service to Zurich and Buenos Aires. In July, a last-minute aircraft swap on the Athens (ATH) route required additional positions to be added after PBS through July 29 to ensure a spare Boeing 777-200 was available to support the busy summer operation. With several other international routes suspended due to external factors, aircraft were repositioned to maximize system reliability.

We asked whether a similar aircraft swap might occur in August so we could better prepare Flight Attendants, as changes between aircraft types can affect galley and aisle positions. Unfortunately, Management could not provide a definitive answer and indicated that a final decision likely will not be made until the end of July. At this time, ATH remains scheduled to operate with the 777-200 throughout August.

As the FIFA World Cup comes to a close and schools begin reopening across much of the country next month, we expect to continue seeing high numbers of Unaccompanied Minors traveling through our operation. Please remain vigilant and continue providing the outstanding care and attention our youngest passengers deserve.

Overall, the August sequence construction remains very similar to July, providing a balanced mix of trip lengths and pairing options. As always, you’ll find the complete sequence breakdown below.