The American Airlines cabin crew union APFA has strongly criticised CEO Robert Isom. The union argued that the company has fallen behind Delta and United and is suffering from a leadership problem.
The Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), which represents cabin crews at American Airlines, sharply criticised CEO Robert Isom and the board of directors following the company’s latest financial results. The union claimed that the airline is lagging behind its competitors and that the current management has failed.
“This Is Not an Exception, It Is a Pattern of Failure”
Representing more than 25,000 flight attendants, APFA said in its statement that while they welcomed American Airlines’ announcement of a small profit, the company remains far behind Delta Air Lines and United Airlines.
The statement said, “This is no longer an exception. It is a pattern of failure under the leadership of CEO Robert Isom and the American Airlines Board of Directors.” The union added, “The workforce at American Airlines is not the problem. Leadership is.”
Comparison with Delta and United Draws Attention
At the centre of the union’s criticism was the financial performance of rival airlines. APFA noted that American Airlines’ annual pre-tax profit remained at USD 352 million, while Delta Air Lines reported profits exceeding USD 5 billion.
It was also stated that American Airlines flight attendants are dissatisfied with profit-sharing bonuses compared with equivalent positions at Delta.
“What Is the Competitive Plan?”
In its statement, APFA directed the following questions to management:
“What is American Airlines’ competitive plan? Why do we hear nothing from the Board of Directors while the company ranks at the bottom every quarter? The current situation is indefensible. Senior-level accountability is long overdue.”
Criticism of Product and Passenger Experience
The union said it welcomed improvements made in premium cabins but described the economy class as “old-fashioned, uncomfortable and far from competitive.”
The statement added, “For years, CEO Robert Isom and his team focused solely on responsibility, reliability and profitability, neglecting investment in the product and customer experience. While our competitors invested across all areas, American Airlines is now experiencing the consequences.”
“New Leadership and a New Vision Are Needed”
APFA concluded its statement with the following remarks:
“American Airlines employees, passengers and investors can no longer wait for empty promises. While the entire industry is moving forward, American Airlines is falling behind. New leadership and a new vision are required for the company.”
Operational Challenges After the Storm
The union’s criticism came at a time when American Airlines was struggling to return to full-capacity operations following the cancellation of thousands of flights across the industry due to Winter Storm Fern.
In a statement from the company, it said, “Despite extremely challenging weather conditions, we are grateful to our team members who made extraordinary efforts to serve our customers.”
