California flight attendants erupt as ‘illegal’ new FAA plan announced

Key Points:

• The FAA proposes exempting pilots and flight attendants from California's state-mandated meal break laws, citing federal preemption under the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978, which could remove protections for uninterrupted 30-minute meal breaks during shifts over five hours.
• Three major flight attendant unions argue the FAA's move is unlawful, stating only courts can decide on federal preemption, and warn that the agency's proposal ignores proper consultation and could create legal uncertainty and unsafe working conditions.
• The unions reject FAA claims that scheduled breaks could compromise emergency response, noting no evidence exists that meal breaks have caused mishandling of in-flight emergencies.
• Airlines, including Alaska Airlines, have previously faced costly legal battles over California meal break laws, with the Supreme Court declining to hear appeals challenging these protections.
• The FAA maintains its current fatigue management rules suffice without replacing state meal break requirements, while unions emphasize the need for negotiated protections reflecting flight attendants' working conditions and safety concerns.