• Over the past 38 years, American has raised more than $45 million for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation through the annual Celebrity Ski event.
• This year, the airline made a $25,000 donation in honor of Chief Customer Officer Alison Taylor and her commitment to the organization ahead of her upcoming retirement. 
• CF Foundation awarded American’s former executive Elise Eberwein with its prestigious Jena Award for her service to the foundation and its mission.

American Airlines and its partners raised more than $1.1 million to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation this month at the Celebrity Ski event in Beaver Creek, Colorado. To date, American has raised more than $45 million for CF Foundation through the annual event.

“For nearly four decades, we’ve gathered on the ski slopes with a group of generous team members, sponsors and supporters of the foundation to rally for the fight against cystic fibrosis,” said American Airlines Chief Communications and Marketing Officer Ron DeFeo. “While the event is filled with skiing and fun, the mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is incredibly important, and we are proud to do our part in combating this serious disease.”

More than 400 people attended the event this year, including celebrities from the sports and entertainment industries. Attendees skied alongside Olympic athletes and enjoyed performances by John Oates and Warner Music recording artist Teddy Swims.

To commemorate her upcoming retirement and note her long-time dedication to supporting the foundation, American donated $25,000 on behalf of Chief Customer Officer Alison Taylor to assist the organization in its mission to cure CF.

Attendees hit the slopes alongside Olympic athletes.

Celebrity Ski attendees enjoy the slopes of Beaver Creek, Colorado.

Elise Eberwein accepts the CF Foundation’s Jena Award on March 23.

Funds raised from this year’s event will help advance the mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation — the world’s leader in the search for a cure for cystic fibrosis. The Foundation supports a broad range of research initiatives to fight CF, which is a genetic disorder that affects the lungs, pancreas and other organs.

“American Airlines, our longest-standing corporate supporter of nearly 40 years, has advanced our mission for all those living with cystic fibrosis — raising more than $45 million cumulatively,” said Patrick Feeley, Chief Development Officer, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. “Their generosity has led to more people with CF living longer than at any time in history. Special thanks to this year’s event sponsors — Title Sponsor American Airlines; Co-presenting Citi and MasterCard; Diamond Sponsor T-Mobile for Business; and Platinum Sponsor FedEx. We are immensely grateful for your support.”

On March 23, the CF Foundation presented American’s former executive Elise Eberwein, who retired from the airline last year, with one of the highest honors the foundation awards each year. Elise received the foundation’s Jena Award, which recognizes a volunteer who does not have a direct connection to CF but goes above and beyond to support the mission.

American Airlines hired the first female graduates from the American Airlines Cadet Academy to join the mainline flight deck as first officers at the 2023 Women in Aviation International Conference. In addition to this special milestone, American extended 52 pilot job offers at the conference — the only mainline airline carrier to do so.

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The American Airlines Cadet Academy, which celebrates its five-year anniversary in July, provides a structured platform to eliminate the financial barriers prospective pilots face. The Cadet Academy supports the growth of American’s pilot population while creating greater diversity amongst the future and current pilot ranks — with more than 30% of enrolled cadets being female. The Cadet Academy helps close the gap between dreams and an attainable future in aviation for those who didn’t know it was possible.

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom made this announcement to its pilots:

Hi, everyone. Delta’s pilots recently ratified a new four-year deal – one that is unprecedented in the history of collective bargaining. It’s a deal that profoundly changes the economics of a Delta pilot’s career. And that’s not just for Delta’s pilots.

That deal will determine compensation, benefits and quality of life for pilots across the rest of the industry. That means something extraordinary for American’s pilots.

That’s because our commitment – my commitment – remains unchanged: Our team members – including our pilots will be paid well and they will be paid competitively.

Let me be clear. American is prepared to match Delta pay rates and provide American’s pilots with the same profit-sharing formula as Delta’s pilots.

American’s pilots would receive pay increases of, on average, 21% in the first year of the new contract, begin participation in a much richer profit-sharing program and receive a bump in the company’s annual contribution to your 401(k) in the second year of deal.

The total pay increase for pilots is on average 40% in the fourth year of the deal. Let me give you a few examples of what this would mean.

By the end of the agreement, factoring in base salary and increased 401 (k) contributions from the company, a narrowbody captain at top of scale would make $475,000 a year – or $135,000 more a year than they earn today. A widebody captain
at top of scale would earn $590,000 a year – that’s $170,000 more a year than they earn today.

And participation in the new profit-sharing program will increase the payout pool from 5% of pre-tax earnings to 10%, and up to 20% of earnings above $2.5 billion.

And it’s not just about Delta pay. It’s about making sure this works for American’s pilots. You would see significant improvements to scheduling-related and quality-of-life items. That means improved trip construction and more certainty when it comes to replacement flying and recovery obligation.

A deal like this would be a game changer for our pilots. It would be worth more than $7 billion in incremental compensation, benefits and quality-of-life improvements over the term of the four-year agreement.

This would allow you to join Delta’s pilots as the industry’s leaders in pay, but with more quality-of-life improvements unique to American Airlines.

It is what you deserve, and it can be negotiated and made available quickly.

Like you, I’m extraordinarily excited about the coming new contract and all that it will mean for you and American.

As we proceed down the negotiation homestretch, I plan to reach out frequently to share updates and make sure you have the company’s perspective and our unequivocal commitment to completing a new contract expeditiously.

I want to ensure there is no question of our intent – that is, we want you to be paid as well as your peers. We want you to have the quality of life and benefits that matter most to you. And we don’t want you to have to wait.

Now, let’s get this deal done.

Thanks for listening, and thanks for all you do every day.