American respects the rights of APFA to conduct public demonstrations and distribute information to customers on Nov. 18. We do not anticipate any service disruptions on this day. American and APFA have made steady progress at the table and have successfully reached tentative agreements on more than 72% of the total contract articles. Only the National Mediation Board decides when the parties will be released from mediation. Historically, negotiations which are settled during mediation in the airline industry last an average of 19 months after the mediator comes on board - and we've been in mediated negotiations for roughly nine months. It appears the APFA is using this announcement in an attempt to increase their leverage at the negotiating table. While our Flight Attendants already receive near industry leading pay and benefits, we are committed to working with APFA to reach a contract that recognizes flight attendants' service and dedication while positioning our company for long-term success by improving productivity.

United Airlines flight attendant members of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO (AFA-CWA) will join members of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) at American Airlines on the picket line at airports around the country tomorrow. While American Flight Attendants conduct a mock strike and walk the picket line, United Flight Attendants will join them in solidarity for a fair Contract and coordinated efforts to lift the standard for Flight Attendants across the industry. "This may be a mock strike but the issues we share with our colleagues at American are all too real," said Greg Davidowitch, president of the AFA-CWA at United Airlines. "We are standing together for improvements in pay and working conditions. If management does not agree to new contracts, then the next strike won't be a mock strike." Both United and American flight attendants shouldered deep concessions to help their airlines turn around during United's bankruptcy and American's efforts to avoid Chapter 11. Flight attendants have suffered the effects of huge cuts to pay, benefits and retirement while working longer hours away from their families for nearly a decade. Now the flight attendant union members are standing together to rebuild their career by negotiating fair contracts at each airline with improvements in pay, healthcare, retirement and quality of work life.

AFA-CWA flight attendants will join the picket line tomorrow, November 18th, in locations where United and American both have flight attendant bases. These locations are: Boston Logan International Airport from 11:00 am-2:00 pm local time; Chicago O'Hare from 10:00 am-3:00 pm local time; Los Angeles International Airport from 11:00 am-2:00 pm local time; New York LaGuardia Airport from 11:00 am-2:00 pm local time; San Francisco International Airport from 7:00 am-2:00 pm local time; and Washington National Airport from 11:00 am-2:00 pm local time.

"On November 18th and everyday, we stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers on the picket line and on airplanes around the world. We will continue to work together to lift the standards for flight attendants with the pay, healthcare, work rules and retirement equal to our hard work, commitment and sacrifice," Davidowitch said.