American Airlines Leadership is facing a rare public rebuke from its own ranks, as unions representing flight attendants and pilots have publicly questioned and criticized the leadership of CEO Robert Isom.

The Association of professional flight attendants (APFA) issued a vote of no confidence in Isom on Monday. The union, which represents more than 28,000 American Airlines flight attendants, said the no-confidence vote was the first in its history against an American Airlines CEO.

In an announcement about the vote, APFA said “management decisions” have left American Airlines “dangerously behind” its competitors. The union also said the vote was a sign that the airline’s “largest unionized labor group has no confidence or trust” in Isom’s leadership. The union demanded a change in leadership at the airline, as well as accountability and “improved operational support”.

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American Airlines CEO Robert Isom speaks at a news conference with other officials to give updates after a collision between an American Airlines plane and an Army helicopter in Washington, DC on January 30, 2025. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images/Getty Images)

American Airlines has faced challenges that have caused it to lag behind its competitors. The airline earned $111 million last year Delta Air Lines brought in $5 billion and United Airlines earned over $3.3 billion, according to CNBC. The outlet noted that the discrepancy comes despite American Airlines flying at a similar capacity to its competitors in 2025.

“From abysmal earnings to operational failures that have front-line workers sleeping on the floors, this airline must correct course before it falls even further behind,” APFA President Julie Hedrick said in a statement after the vote. “This level of failure starts at the top, with CEO Robert Isom.”

In response to FOX Business’ request for comment, American Airlines referred to comments Isom made during the airline’s recent earnings call, which took place on Jan. 27.

“Our strategy to deliver American’s revenue potential is focused on four key areas: delivering a consistent and elevated customer experience, maximizing the power of our network and fleet, building partnerships that deepen loyalty and lifetime value, and continuing to advance our sales, distribution and revenue management efforts. While this has been a multi-year effort, 2026 will be the year those efforts begin to pay off,” he said. FOX.

“I’ve been in this business for a long time and I’m incredibly excited about what’s ahead for American. The foundation we built in 2025, combined with our strategy moving forward, positions us to deliver sustainable growth and create long-term value for our customers, team members and shareholders,” he added.

The AFPA cited several reasons behind its board’s unanimous no-confidence vote in Isom, including backward competitiveness against rival airlinesexcessive executive compensation despite financial losses, an allegedly flawed sales strategy that hurt industry rankings and deepened operational instability.

An American Airlines passenger plane is parked at a gate at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on August 24, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. (DANIEL SLIM/AFP/Getty Images)

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Captain Dennis Tajer, spokesman for the Allied Pilots Association (APA) Communications Committee, told FOX Business that the pilots’ union “understands” the APFA’s “deep frustration” with Isom.

“The APA understands and respects your deep frustration with Mr. Isom’s leadership and his management of the lackluster American financial recovery to include the lack of a long-term strategy to catch Delta and United while defining a positive identity and culture for our airline. We share a similar frustration,” Tajer said.

On February 6, just days before the AFPA issued its no-confidence vote, the APA sent a letter to the American Airlines Group Board of Directors requesting a formal meeting amid concerns over the airline’s leadership decisions. In its letter, the union said it represents more than 16,000 American Airlines pilots.

“Our airline is on a path of underperformance and has been unable to define an identity or a strategy to correct course,” the APA letter said. “This assessment is not the result of a single interaction with management, an isolated operational disruption or a single earnings report; it is the result of persistent patterns of operational, cultural and strategic shortcomings. Copying competitor initiatives and reactive repairs to past mistakes is not a strategy for the future that will close the gap between American and our premium competitors, United Delta Air Line and United Delta Air.”

A Boeing 737-800 aircraft, operated by American Airlines, at Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) in Hebron, Kentucky, on Friday, February 6, 2026. (Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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The union said the airline’s management failed to “articulate a credible strategy and demonstrate measurable improvement”, despite the APA raising concerns “for more than a year”. The APA accused American Airlines’ leadership of praising “efficiency” while failing to “fully monetize the assets under its charge.”

“While the market capitalization of our premium competitors has soared, American’s has soured. As their free cash flow holds and grows, ours is inconsistent and stumbling,” the APA letter said.

Tajer said APA leadership was continuing to “consider all available options,” although he focused on “seeking engagement with the American board.”

APA said it has yet to receive a response from American Airlines’ board.

FOX Business has reached out to APFA for comment.