American Airlines makes contract proposal to its pilots

American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ:AAL) has made a contract proposal to its pilots that promises the highest pay rates among the airline's rivals.

The move comes just days after the airline's 24,000 flight attendants narrowly rejected a new contract.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the offer to the pilots removes an unpopular request that would have added five seats to the planes of the airline's regional affiliates. The move would bring more passengers to American, the Journal said.

The newspaper reported that American's contract proposal would be equal in value to the current Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) pilot contract, plus 3 percent.

American Airlines President Scott Kirby said in a letter that the proposal "gives American pilots the highest pay rates among our large, network peers, and does so well before anyone could have contemplated.

The Allied Pilots Association's 22-member board of directors is scheduled to meet this week to evaluate the airline's proposal, the Journal said. The Allied Pilots Association represents the airline's 10,000 pilots.

Fort Worth, Texas-based American Airlines is the world's largest airline by operations following its merger last year with US Airways. It is by far the dominant carrier at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, where the company has its second-largest hub.

Lance Murray edits and writes for the DBJ's website and can be reached at 214-706-7106. Subscribe to our email newsletters.