Omni Air International Flight Attendants Secure Tentative Agreement with 40% Pay Increase

The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) has officially announced that flight attendants at Omni Air International have reached a tentative agreement with airline management. The deal, confirmed by union communications specialist John Perry, covers nearly 300 crew members and addresses significant economic and quality-of-life concerns.

According to the union’s statement, the centerpiece of the agreement is a substantial pay adjustment. The AFA-CWA reports that the new contract includes a “40% pay increase,” a figure that aligns the charter carrier’s compensation packages with recent industry-leading standards. In addition to the economic gains, the agreement reportedly includes improvements to scheduling and work-life balance, critical factors for a workforce that operates on the irregular schedules typical of military and government charter operations.

Details of the Tentative Agreement

The tentative agreement marks the conclusion of a contentious negotiation period. The AFA-CWA has highlighted that the deal brings necessary relief to the flight attendants who crew Omni’s fleet of Boeing 767 and 777 aircraft. While the full text of the agreement is pending ratification by the membership, the union has released the top-line figures regarding compensation.

“Omni Flight Attendants have reached a Tentative Agreement for nearly 300 Flight Attendants. The agreement includes economic and quality of life improvements, most notably a 40% pay increase.”
, Association of Flight Attendants-CWA

The union has indicated that the agreement covers the entire bargaining unit of approximately 300 flight attendants. The ratification process will follow, during which members will review the full details and vote on whether to accept the terms.

Background: From Strike Authorization to Settlement

This agreement arrives after a period of heightened labor tension at the Tulsa-based carrier. According to historical union data and previous reports, Omni flight attendants signaled deep dissatisfaction with the status of negotiations earlier in the bargaining cycle.

In early 2024, the workgroup took decisive action to pressure management. Records show that in February and March of 2024, Omni flight attendants voted 100% in favor of authorizing a strike, with over 90% of eligible members participating in the ballot. At the time, the union threatened to deploy its trademarked “CHAOS™” (Create Havoc Around Our System) strategy, which involves intermittent and unannounced work stoppages designed to disrupt operations without a total walkout.

The unanimous strike authorization vote underscored the severity of the dispute, with union representatives previously characterizing management’s offers as inadequate regarding duty lengths and wages. The successful negotiation of this tentative agreement suggests that the credible threat of labor disruption played a role in bridging the gap between the parties.

AirPro News Analysis: Industry Context

The reported 40% pay increase is statistically significant within the current aviation landscape. We observe that this figure mirrors the benchmark set by flight attendants at major commercial carriers. For instance, in May 2025, United Airlines flight attendants secured a contract that included an approximate 40% economic improvement in the first year.

For a charter carrier like Omni Air International, which specializes in U.S. Department of Defense troop transport and government contracts, matching the percentage gains of commercial giants is a notable achievement. It indicates a “trickle-down” effect in labor negotiations, where standards set by legacy carriers (United, Delta, American) force smaller or specialized operators to increase compensation to retain skilled crew members in a competitive labor market.

Furthermore, the “quality of life” improvements mentioned in the release are particularly vital for Omni crews. Unlike scheduled commercial flying, charter operations often involve long-haul international flights with unpredictable layovers and deployment schedules. Securing guaranteed rest and scheduling protections is often as valuable to these workgroups as base pay rates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who represents the flight attendants at Omni Air International?

They are represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), the largest flight attendant union in the world.

What is the primary feature of the new agreement?

The most prominent feature announced is a 40% pay increase, alongside quality of life improvements.

What does Omni Air International do?

Omni is a charter airline headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It primarily operates passenger charter flights for the U.S. military (troop transport) and other government agencies, as well as wet-leasing aircraft to other carriers.

Is the deal final?

Not yet. It is a “Tentative Agreement” (TA), meaning it has been agreed upon by union leadership and management but must still be voted on and ratified by the flight attendant membership.

Sources: Association of Flight Attendants-CWA