American Airlines CEO Robert Isom is under intense fire from the company's own workforce, with two major unions representing over 44,000 employees issuing scathing statements that hold him directly responsible for the airline's declining performance and operational chaos. The Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) and the Allied Pilots Association (APA) have both launched blistering attacks on Isom's leadership in recent days, accusing him of crippling the embattled carrier.
Unions Issue No Confidence Vote and Harsh Criticism
Julie Hedrick, president of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, delivered a particularly damning assessment on Monday, stating unequivocally that "this level of failure begins at the very top, with CEO Robert Isom." Her comments followed a similarly critical letter from the Allied Pilots Association just three days earlier, which represents approximately 16,000 American Airlines pilots and blasted the airline's poor commercial performance.
The APFA has since taken the extraordinary step of issuing a formal vote of no confidence in Isom and has moved to halt what they describe as the "relentless downward spiral" they claim he has triggered. Hedrick emphasized that "from abysmal profits earned to operational failures that have front-line workers sleeping on floors, this airline must course-correct before it falls even further behind."
Operational Failures During Winter Storms
One of the union's primary concerns centers on what they describe as "chaotic and mismanaged operations during weather events." The APFA specifically cited Winter Storm Fern in January, during which American Airlines canceled more than 9,000 flights, resulting in staff being forced to sleep on cold airport floors. According to the union, when workers complained about these conditions, Isom allegedly told them it was "part of our job."
Hedrick characterized Isom's leadership as "tone-deaf" and showing "a complete disregard for the human element," adding that his approach is "actively harming both American Airlines and the people who keep it running every day."
Financial Performance Lagging Behind Rivals
The financial picture for American Airlines appears equally troubling according to union statements. Despite being the largest U.S. air carrier, the company has fallen alarmingly behind competitors Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. According to S&P Capital IQ data, the Fort Worth, Texas-based company earned only about six percent of the U.S. airline industry's total profits in 2024 and 2025.
By stark contrast, Delta significantly outperformed American, earning roughly 56 percent of industry profits, while United captured approximately 43 percent. The APA Board of Directors stated that American Airlines is on an "underperforming path" that will not "close the gap" with its premium competitors.
"These failures have negatively impacted the financial performance of our company and frustrated all stakeholders, to include shareholders, for far too long," the frustrated APA union wrote. "While our premium competitors' market capitalization has soared, American's has soured."
CEO's Response and Background
Isom responded to some of these concerns on Saturday, according to The New York Times, agreeing to meet with APA leadership to discuss several critical issues. These include how Winter Storms Fern and Gianna were handled, pilot attendance policies, and what he described as "our business plan to return American to its rightful place atop the industry."
Isom assumed the CEO role in March 2022 after serving as the company's president from 2016 to 2022. He also sits on the Board of Directors and previously held senior executive roles at GMAC LLC, Northwest Airlines, and America West Airlines, with his career beginning at manufacturing giant Procter & Gamble.
Despite the criticism, Isom earned $15.6 million in 2024 between his salary and stock awards, according to the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations pay watch, and has an estimated net worth of $44 million. During discussions about American Airlines' quarterly performance last month, he claimed that 2026 will be the year that the company's efforts to improve customer service and increase revenue will "start to bear fruit."
The situation remains tense as American Airlines workers, who earn a share of company profits at all three major airlines, continue to express frustration with leadership while the company attempts to navigate its competitive challenges and operational shortcomings.
