10.04.22 – American Airlines Flight Attendant Union Applauds Implementation of 10-Hour Minimum Rest Provision

APFA Press Release

Tuesday, October 4, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Paul Hartshorn, Jr.
[email protected]

American Airlines Flight Attendant Union Applauds Implementation of 10-Hour Minimum Rest Provision

(Euless, TX) —  In October 2018, a bipartisan and nearly unanimous Congress passed a law to increase the Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Flight Attendant minimum rest from eight hours to ten hours. However, in 2018, the former Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary determined that the regulation had to go through an arduous rulemaking process, delaying its implementation.

“Today, nearly four years later exactly, we are pleased to share that the FAR 10-hour non-reducible minimum rest will finally become a reality,” said Julie Hedrick, National President of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants. “Because of the leadership of DOT Secretary Buttigieg, the new regulation will finally take effect, and Flight Attendants will see a much-deserved increase in rest.”

The past two and a half years have been incredibly trying for Flight Attendants who have had to work through the pandemic only to face longer days, more flights, more reschedules, and more disruptions. In a profession with early mornings, late nights, and changing time zones, Flight Attendants are highly susceptible to fatigue. Proper rest is critical in a safety-sensitive profession. The 10-hour minimum rest FAR will require that our schedules are built with more than 10-hour rest periods to protect trip continuity in the event of a delay.

“We have reached this critical milestone today as a result of working together with our Labor partners and Washington,” Hedrick said. “Flight Attendants across the country are cheering this announcement. Thank you to the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA), DOT Secretary Buttigieg, FAA Acting Administrator Nolen, President Biden, T&I Committee Chair DeFazio, and our many allies in Congress for helping make this happen.”