American Airlines pilots ask carrier to start negotiations for a new contract

(Reuters) – American Airlines (AAL.O) pilots union on Monday urged the carrier to begin negotiations for a new labor contract in January to boost salaries that were last revised in 2017.

The No. 1 U.S. carrier signed a five-year contract with its pilots in early 2015, providing immediate pay raises of 23 percent and subsequent annual raises of three percent.

Allied Pilots Association (APA), representing 15,000 American Airlines pilots, said “it’s time” to move beyond the labor contract borne out of bankruptcy, as it pursues a revised agreement amid booming demand for air travel.

“With respectful communication and open dialogue, there is no reason why we cannot achieve a better contract,” APA President Captain Daniel Carey said in a statement.

“We fully intend to conclude these negotiations in months, not years.”

(This story corrects paragraph 1 to say salaries were last revised in 2017. The story was previously refiled to change date to Nov. 19.)