On April 1, 2025, the Delta MEC filed MEC Grievance 25-11 alleging that Delta violated PWA Section 1 C. 1., Section 1 D. 1., Section 1 B. 40. d., and related sections of the PWA by exceeding the contractual limit of 223 permitted number of 76-seat aircraft in the Delta Connection fleet during periods in 2024 and 2025. The parties were scheduled to appear before a 5-Member System Board from May 12-14, 2026. On May 7, 2026, the parties reached an agreement in principle on a Settlement Agreement that resolved the dispute without the need for arbitration. The parties’ signatories executed the Settlement Agreement on May 19, 2026.
For background, the FAA issued a Service Bulletin in 2012 that required certain maintenance to address unanticipated pressure floor cracking and metal fatigue in the wing structures of a significant portion of the DCI fleet. To accomplish this maintenance without a service disruption, the Company requested written relief from ALPA that allowed the Company to backfill affected aircraft that were out-of-service undergoing qualifying maintenance with “replacements” that would not count toward the permitted aircraft limits (the “Pressure Floor Modification Letter”).
MEC Grievance 25-11 alleges that during intermittent periods in 2024 and 2025, Delta operated 224 76-seat aircraft, exceeding by one the maximum number of permitted 76-seat aircraft allowed to be operated by non-Delta pilots under Section 1 D. 1. and Section 1 B. 40. d. The Company contends that the Pressure Floor Modification Letter permitted them to count aircraft in a manner that did not violate the PWA. ALPA disputes the Company’s interpretation and application of the Pressure Floor Modification Letter.
Currently, there are two remaining aircraft in the Delta Connection Fleet that require the maintenance specified in the Pressure Floor Modification Letter. Qualifying maintenance on these two aircraft, which the Company has identified to ALPA by tail number, is expected to be complete by the end of 2028.
This Settlement Agreement allows the Company to apply the Pressure Floor Modification Letter only to use and not count “replacement aircraft” while the two specified remaining aircraft undergo qualifying maintenance. If the Company does use the Pressure Floor Modification Letter, it will be applied consistent with ALPA’s interpretation of the agreement, such that the number of non-replacement 76-seat aircraft will not exceed 223. Finally, the Settlement Agreement dictates that, once the qualifying maintenance on those two remaining aircraft is complete, the Pressure Floor Modification Letter will sunset and no longer have any force or effect on the parties or the administration of any section of the PWA.
Any questions related to the Settlement Agreement should be submitted to the MEC Contract Administration (Enforcement) Committee via DART or your elected Union representatives.
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