MIAMI – A group of American Airlines pilots were picketing at Miami International Airport on Tuesday, and that wasn’t the only airport where it happened.
The airline is now feeling the heat as its pilots are demanding higher salaries and better working conditions, according to the union that represents them.
“Our pilots are very frustrated with the airline’s disregard for their schedules,” said Gregg Overman with the Allied Pilots Association.
Roughly 2,000 American Airlines pilots hit airports across the country Monday for an informational picket.
It comes one day after 99% of the union members who voted authorized a strike against the airline.
On Tuesday morning, it was business as usual for American Airlines.
Even as a looming pilot strike threatens to disrupt their busy summer travel season, some pilots are already picketing at Philadelphia, North Carolina, and at least eight other airports, including MIA.
Even though American Airlines’ flight operations are not being impacted just yet, customers booked on flights this week are nervously taking notice.”
American Airlines passenger Gurcay Sahin told Local 10 News that he’s worried about the airline moving forward after the strike.
“It actually would be a big concern for me,” he said. “I do fly a lot and I do use American Airlines a lot. So yes, it would be terrible if this was to happen.”
Latansy Hutchin was at MIA awaiting her flight to Memphis.
“This is really an inconvenience for us, where we spend our hard-earned dollars, flying with y’all and you need your pilots,” Hutchin said. “Clearly, without them, how you gonna function?”
There were few delays or cancellations inside of MIA on Monday.
The vote is just the first in a series of steps before a strike could happen that could align with the busy summer travel season.
“It would be painful, and that’s why we really hope we don’t have to go there,” said Overman. “Our preference is for a negotiated solution.”
Cpt. Dennis Tajer, of the Allied Pilots Association, told Local 10 News that many pilots are running on fumes as summer approaches.
“There’s a difference between having unforeseen delays that are very long—it happens. But when you schedule someone right to the maximum, it’s like driving your car right to the red line. You shouldn’t be surprised when it starts leaking and sputtering.”
Pilots say when their quality of life, schedules and wage benefits improve, so will the airline.
“The same thing they were doing last summer, that created all the havoc, are pretty much laid out before us, right now,” he said.
In a statement, a spokesperson for American Airlines said, in part:
“We remain confident that an agreement for our pilots is within reach and can be finalized quickly. The finish line is in sight…. We remain focused on completing the handful of matters necessary to reach an agreement our pilots deserve.”