FAA Clears Reduced Crew for American Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
American Airlines has secured Federal Aviation Administration approval to operate its new premium-heavy Boeing 787-9P Dreamliners with a smaller cabin crew—a move drawing sharp criticism from flight attendant unions. The ruling, requested in December 2024, lowers the minimum required crew on international flights such as Chicago O’Hare to London Heathrow from eight flight attendants to seven.
The Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) argues the decision compromises safety by assigning one crew member to manage two wide-body exit doors, specifically 4L and 4R—departing from the industry standard of one attendant per emergency exit. Union leaders warn this could significantly delay evacuation in an emergency, when every second counts.
American’s new 787-9P layout includes 51 Flagship Business seats, four of which are new Flagship Preferred Suites. While these upgrades enhance the passenger experience, crew members say reduced staffing and workspace limitations undermine safety and service quality.
International regulations raise additional concerns. In some parts of Europe, the Boeing 787 is permitted to operate with as few as six crew members during emergencies—potentially leaving two pairs of emergency exits each managed by a single flight attendant.
Critics argue American is following competitors rather than setting a higher standard. United Airlines operates its Boeing 787-10s with seven crew, and Delta Air Lines has FAA approval for just six on certain Airbus A330 aircraft. APFA contends this is a race to the bottom, prioritizing cost-cutting over operational integrity.
The FAA clarified that the reduced crew level represents a legal minimum, not a mandate. Flights may still be staffed with eight attendants when available. However, should a crew member be unavailable—due to illness or logistical challenges—the aircraft can depart legally with seven.
APFA plans to lobby lawmakers on Capitol Hill for regulatory reform, calling for mandatory staffing of at least one flight attendant per emergency exit on all wide-body aircraft, regardless of region.
Meanwhile, American Airlines is restoring in-flight services suspended during the pandemic, including second beverage services on long domestic flights and pre-meal drinks on international routes like Paris and London. The union says these enhancements, while welcomed by passengers, add pressure to an already reduced crew—raising further concerns about safety, efficiency, and working conditions.
Timeline of Staffing and Service Changes
- February 2020: COVID-19 wipes out global travel demand.
- March 2020: Inflight service reductions begin.
- October 2020: Crew levels are lowered on some aircraft types.
- January 2022: Main Cabin pre-meal bar service is eliminated.
- January 2025: Union loses legal battle to restore pre-pandemic staffing.
- May 2025: American reinstates select inflight services but not staffing.
Despite these changes, AA has no plans to restore full pre-pandemic flight attendant numbers on widebody aircraft such as the Boeing 777-300, which previously had two more crew members on international premium routes.
Related News: https://airguide.info/?s=american+airlines, https://airguide.info/category/air-travel-business/travel-health-security/
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, aviationa2z.com