American Airlines is offering unpaid leave opportunities for the month of September to address an anticipated surplus of flight attendants, according to multiple reports. The airline is asking 1,205 flight attendants—about 4% of its flight-attendant workforce—to take unpaid leave, which also creates openings for more junior staff. The decision comes amid changes to the company’s fall schedule, described as pulling back earlier than usual, alongside the impact of fuel-price-related schedule reductions. The airline’s approach is also linked to operational planning after the summer peak, including a smaller operating cushion than expected.
One report says the program is backed by the relevant union and is structured to preserve benefits while still granting a period of unpaid time off. Another notes that the airline has recently added more flight attendants, with more than 2,000 new hires joining the workforce, which can increase staffing levels ahead of demand.
Overall, the reported plan centers on offering voluntary unpaid leave slots to reduce staffing costs and align staffing with the revised September operating schedule.
