Flight attendant union says American Airlines is in ‘downward spiral’ under CEO
The union representing American Airlines flight attendants said Monday its board issued a vote of no confidence in CEO Robert Isom, blaming him for a “relentless downward spiral” at the Fort Worth-based carrier.
The union is asking for accountability, improved operational support and that Isom be replaced.
“From abysmal profits earned to operational failures that have front-line workers sleeping on floors, this airline must course-correct before it falls even further behind,” said Julie Hedrick, president of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, in a press release. “This level of failure begins at the very top, with CEO Robert Isom.”
Isom became the CEO of American Airlines in 2022. Prior to that, he was the president of American since 2016, overseeing commercial and operations activities.
The airline responded to a request for comment with a statement from Isom that didn’t address the criticisms directly: “I’ve been in this business for a long time, and I’m incredibly excited about what lies ahead for American. The foundation we built in 2025, combined with our go-forward strategy, positions us to deliver sustainable growth and create long-term value for our customers, team members, and shareholders.”
The flight attendants union’s isn’t the only group calling for a change. On Feb. 6, the American Airlines Pilots Association, which represents 16,000 pilots, sent a letter to the company’s board saying the airline is underperforming and is showing no signs of having a plan to correct the problems.
“For more than a year, APA has voiced concerns regarding management’s ability to turn the corner,” the association said in a statement. “Management has been given repeated opportunities to articulate a credible strategy and demonstrate measurable improvement. Those opportunities have passed without meaningful change. Despite repeated assurances, the operation continues to struggle under predictable stressors, exposing systemic weaknesses in preparation, execution, and decision-making. These consequences are shouldered by our customers and employees every day.”
Dallas-Fort Worth is American’s largest hub, and the carrier employs around 35,000 people in the region.
Why the flight attendants union is criticizing American Airlines
The union’s board said the issues at the airline have been ongoing since the pandemic, and the airline is falling “dangerously behind” its competitors including United Airlines, Delta and Southwest Airlines.
The union said compensation for top executives has remained high “while management’s financial results deteriorated.” A “failed corporate sales strategy” alienated business customers and resulted in the airline falling in consumer rankings, and operations have become “chaotic and mismanaged” during weather events.
“When the recent winter storm hamstrung our operations to the point where Flight Attendants were sleeping on airport floors, Robert Isom’s response was that it was just ‘part of our job,’” Hedrick said in the statement. “His tone-deaf leadership shows a complete disregard for the human element and is actively harming both American Airlines and the people who keep it running every day.”
The Wall Street Journal ranked American at the bottom of its “Best and Worst” list for 2025, acknowledging the tragic start to the year with the deadly American Eagle crash in Washington, D.C.
“American rarely shines in our rankings,” the Journal wrote, “but 2025 was particularly ugly. Its cancellation rate went from 1.37% in 2024 to the chart-topping 2.2%. The highest it ranked in any category was sixth out of the nine airlines, for extreme delays.”
The airline told the Journal that investments in baggage handling and other operations logistics are “already yielding very promising improvements.”
What is the APFA asking for?
The APFA said it wants “transparent leadership” at American Airlines, responsible decision-making, and a plan to restore operational performance and restore customer confidence.
“Management’s repeated failures are dragging this airline down and leaving frontline workers to pay the price, including losing out on meaningful profit sharing at a company that should be thriving,” Hedrick said.
This story was originally published February 9, 2026 at 2:14 PM.