APA Enters Section 6

“Raise the Standard”

APA President CA Nick Silva and Vice President CA Chris Torres personally delivered APA’s notice of entering Section 6 on Friday afternoon, Aug. 7. The notice invoked the implementation letter of agreement (LOA 23-004) provision that “negotiations for a new CBA will commence immediately” if the parties cannot agree that implementation of the 2023 CBA is sufficient. APA was unable to agree that the 2023 CBA was sufficiently implemented primarily due to the Company’s decision not to implement the LCP program, although continued development and testing of other contractual provisions also contribute to the Association’s inability to agree that implementation is sufficient. Had the CBA been sufficiently implemented, early openers would have occurred in November 2026. The CBA’s amendable date remains Aug. 1, 2027.

The notice calls for both parties to “Raise the Standard” for our airline, profession, and industry, and says that APA will soon deliver its opener. It also informs management that we can mutually raise the standard by focusing on pilot retention, scheduling and work rules, process improvements within the CBA, and ensuring our pilots contribute to and benefit from American Airlines’ strategic plan.

The APA Board of Directors approved a draft Section 6 Opener document during its summer meeting last week. Once that document is finalized, the Negotiating Committee will deliver it to the Company and distribute copies to the membership.