AA Pilots to CEO: "We're Tired of Apologizing to Passengers"...

Two years into its merger with US Airways, American Airlines’ pilots’ union criticized the company for “clinging to their old ways” and fostering a “toxic culture” in a letter to CEO Doug Parker last week. Candidly, the new American Airlines product is outright embarrassing and we’re tired of apologizing to our passengers,” said the Friday letter signed by the Allied Pilots Association board of directors. “The often-repeated excuse that ‘we need more time’ won’t cut it.”The letter goes on to allege violations of the pilots’ contract terms and trouble with payroll “correctly paying our pilots,” though specific details weren’t included.
“The pilots of American Airlines will not remain silent as we witness the rebirth of the toxic culture we fought so hard to eradicate,” the letter said.
The letter comes a little over a year into a new five-year agreement signed between American and its pilots following the company’s 2012 bankruptcy proceedings and 2013 merger with US Airways.
But the pilots contend that the terms of the contract have not been effectively implemented and demanded “meaningful and immediate culture change.”
APA president Keith Wilson raised similar concerns about “a culture gone awry” in a January letter to pilots.
American Airlines spokesman Casey Norton said the company “fully understands” the pilots’ concerns and is already taking steps toward improving employee relations.
He said the company has already spent $3.5 billion raising employee salaries and benefits since the merger, with another $3 billion toward improving aircraft interiors, airport lounges and other products and services. The company is also investing $4 billion in new aircraft, he said.
“That’s going to take some time; it’s important to realize we are two years into a five-year integration process,” Norton said. “Everyone wants it to go fast, faster than it is, but we’re also committed to getting it right.”