Tentative agreement in American Airlines contract talks

WASHINGTON -- American Airlines and its flight attendants' union reached a tentative agreement Saturday on a contract, a spokeswoman for the National Mediation Board said.

The world's largest airline and the flight attendants met for three days under the auspices of the mediation board to negotiate issues that included pay, retirement, crew meals and crew rest time.

"American Airlines and the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) reached an agreement in principle today," said a recorded message at the mediation board.

A statement on APFA's Web site said the tentative agreement on a new collective bargaining deal still must be approved.

"The agreement is subject to finalization of contract language and approval by the APFA Executive Committee as well as ratification by the 24,000 flight attendants," the statement said. "This process is expected to take an additional 10 days, and no details of the tentative agreement will be released during this process."

American Airlines was encouraged by the news.

"We are very pleased to have reached an agreement with the APFA," said Sue Oliver, senior vice president of human resources at American and the airlines chief negotiator in the talks in a statement on the company's Web site. "Our flight attendants do a terrific job for our customers, and this deal provides rewards for all of their hard work."

The flight attendants have been without a contract for more than two years. The airline had offered a 21.6 percent pay hike over six years, which the union has rejected as inadequate, saying it would still leave American's salaries behind those of Delta Air Lines flight attendants. The American attendants' base pay is between $15,000 and $36,000, according to their union.

The deal was reached about six hours before a 30-day cooling-off period ended at 12:01 a.m. EDT Sunday.

However, even had no agreement been reached, the chances for a strike were slim. The White House had said it would appoint a Presidential Emergency Board if no agreement was reached this weekend.