Association of Professional Flight Attendants National President Julie Hedrick announces the result of a strike authorization vote outside of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport on Aug. 30, 2023. Of the more-than-26,000 union members, 99.4% voted to authorize a strike if they can't reach a deal with the carrier.

While there were significant strike threats from American Airlines pilots and flight attendants in 2023, a massive work stoppage was averted through late-stage negotiations and the intervention of the National Mediation Board. In 2026, the labor situation at American remains a topic of intense discussion, but a full-scale strike is unlikely due to the strict regulations of the Railway Labor Act (RLA). Under the RLA, airline unions cannot simply walk off the job; they must be "released" into a 30-day cooling-off period by the government, which rarely happens because of the potential damage to the national economy. As of February 2026, American Airlines has successfully ratified several long-term contracts with its primary unions, including the Allied Pilots Association (APA), which has led to increased stability and industry-leading pay for its crews. However, travelers should always monitor "mediation" news; while a legal strike is rare, "informal" actions like "sick-outs" or picking can occasionally cause minor delays. Currently, American's operations are stable, and there is no imminent threat of a nationwide strike that would ground the fleet in early 2026.