Railway Labor Act

O’Melveny is the premier law firm for Railway Labor Act counseling and representation. For nearly forty years, we have advised passenger and cargo airlines and airline service companies on all aspects of the RLA.

Our lawyers regularly advise clients on the RLA consequences of merger transactions, represent them in proceedings before the National Mediation Board, litigate in federal court, participate in collective bargaining negotiations, both as strategic advisor to our clients’ labor relations officials and as lead negotiator, and arbitrate significant cases on behalf of our clients.

Alaska Air Group

O’Melveny counseled Alaska Airlines on all aspects of its US$4 billion acquisition of Virgin America. Read

American Airlines, Inc.

O’Melveny secured a victory for American Airlines in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in one of the first appellate decisions addressing the McCaskill-Bond amendment to the Federal Aviation Act, which was enacted in 2007 to ensure that the integration of airline seniority lists after a merger occurs in a “fair and equitable manner.” Read

United Airlines, Inc.

O’Melveny secured two major summary judgment wins for United Airlines, confirming that California labor and employment law does not apply to individuals who work primarily outside the state’s borders. Read

US Airways, Inc.

O’Melveny secured a victory for US Airways, Inc. in its attempt to stop an illegal slowdown by its pilots. Read

US Airways/American Airlines

O’Melveny represented US Airways in connection with its merger with American Airlines, both in structuring a complex set of labor agreements to secure union support for the deal, and as lead trial counsel in the Department of Justice’s attempt to enjoin the merger on antitrust grounds. Read
    • Alaska Airlines
    • American Airlines Group/US Airways
    • Atlas Air 
    • Delta Air Lines
    • Frontier Airlines
    • Gate Gourmet
    • Republic Airlines
    • Spirit Airlines
    • United Airlines