PSA Airlines flight attendants rally for wage parity at major U.S. airports

Sara Nelson, international president of AFA, said:

“Flight Attendants at PSA and other regional airlines across the industry fly the same routes and provide the same service as mainline Flight Attendants. It’s time they get paid like it. Regional Flight Attendants deserve pay and benefits that reflect the value of their hard work.”

The AFA-CWA represents about 55,000 flight attendants at 20 airlines across the United States—including United Airlines—and is currently working to organize Delta Air Lines employees.

The union’s strategy includes what it calls CHAOS—Create Havoc Around Our System—which allows strikes without advance notice after mediation board negotiations reach a deadlock. When this occurs, both parties enter a mandatory “cooling off” period before a strike deadline can be set.

PSA Airlines is wholly owned by American Airlines and operates around 500 daily flights to nearly 100 destinations nationwide.

Flight attendants face significant risks on duty due to responsibilities ranging from medical emergencies to managing unruly passengers—a problem that has increased in recent years.

Earlier this year, PSA Airlines experienced a fatal crash involving an American Eagle CRJ aircraft and a US Army UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. All sixty travelers aboard both aircraft died in the incident.

American Airlines was founded in 1926 and operates as a full-service carrier with several hubs including Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Miami International Airport, New York JFK Airport, LaGuardia Airport, Philadelphia International Airport, and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. It is part of the oneworld alliance under the American Airlines Group umbrella.

The recent accident underscores risks faced by aircrews despite overall aviation safety improvements; when incidents occur they are often fatal for crew members as well as passengers.