The big challenges of 2022 — COVID and inflation — posed no obstacle to travelers, but finding enough pilots slowed down the travel recovery.
Now, with all four big airlines negotiating pilot contracts and several in talks with flight attendants and other groups, labor could again be a pain point for travelers and carriers alike.
Union pilots at Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, United and Delta have increased pressure on management with staged demonstrations throughout the fall. Three of those four airlines have accepted some form of tentative deals, but American and United pilots rejected pay raises of 20% or more before the contracts could even go to members. Delta’s deal is still pending.
