FAA plan to exempt flight crews from state meal breaks faces union opposition

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a plan to exempt pilots and flight attendants from state-mandated meal breaks, arguing that federal airline rules should override local requirements. This move specifically targets protections for California-based crews, who are currently entitled to an uninterrupted 30-minute meal break when working shifts exceeding five hours.

Three major flight attendant unions—the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, and the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers—have issued an open letter opposing the plan. The unions characterized the FAA’s attempt to preempt state law as “plainly unlawful,” asserting that only courts, rather than agencies, have the authority to determine when federal preemption applies.

The FAA maintains that the current patchwork of varying state requirements can negatively impact airline pricing, routes, and services. This dispute follows previous legal battles regarding California meal breaks, including cases involving Alaska Airlines that reached the US Supreme Court.