The airline Southwest reached a labor agreement with flight attendants

Southwest Airlines has reached a preliminary agreement on a new contract with the flight attendants' union, who have been trailing behind pilots in the push for higher wages at US carriers. Details of the agreement, covering approximately 20,000 flight attendants at the Dallas-based airline, were not disclosed on Wednesday.

Southwest's flight attendants had previously rejected an agreement reached in December, which included an immediate 20% pay raise followed by four annual 3% increases. Union President Lin Montgomery stated that the union would provide a detailed explanation of the agreement to members at meetings starting Monday, with voting to commence in a few weeks, as reported by nbcdfw.com.

Adam Carlisle, Southwest's vice president of labor relations, expressed the importance of flight attendants in ensuring passenger safety and service. "I'm pleased they will have the opportunity to vote on the new agreement," he remarked.

While pilots at American, Delta, United, and Southwest approved contracts last year that would increase wages by around 40% over five years, flight attendants have struggled to reach a similar agreement. Delta Air Lines flight attendants, who are not union members, do not engage in wage and benefit negotiations.

Last year, major airlines set quarterly revenue records as travel rebounded significantly following the pandemic.

Earlier, Travel Wise reported on American Airlines' summer schedule in Europe.