American Airlines receives FAA approval for reduced crew on new Dreamliners

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted American Airlines permission to operate its premium-heavy Boeing 787 Dreamliners with fewer cabin crew members. This approval allows the airline to staff its 787-9Ps with seven flight attendants instead of the usual eight. The FAA confirmed this development to Aerospace Global News.

American Airlines had initially requested this change in early 2024, seeking flexibility in staffing for its premium seat-heavy aircraft. However, the decision has faced criticism from the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), which represents 28,000 inflight crew members at American Airlines. The union expressed concerns about safety and service quality, describing the reduction as an "unacceptable erosion of Flight Attendant staffing." They argued that it is "unrealistic and unsafe" to expect seven attendants to manage under the new configuration of the 787-9P, particularly with an increase to 51 private Business Class Suites.

A memo from APFA highlighted potential safety risks, noting that a single flight attendant would be responsible for managing two widebody exits during an emergency evacuation. In response, American Airlines stated that reducing minimum staffing requirements would provide operational flexibility and help avoid delays or cancellations on long-haul international flights.