Virgin Air Flight Attendants’ $83 Million Wage Win Up on Appeal

Virgin America Inc. and Alaska Airlines will tell the Ninth Circuit on Thursday that an $83 million judgment awarded to nearly 1,400 flight attendants for unpaid wages and missed breaks should be reversed because it’s unconstitutional to force the national airlines to abide by California labor law.

The outcome of the case to be argued before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit could have a significant impact on the airline industry and its workforce: If airlines must comply with California’s wage and hour rules, they’ll have to provide these employees with meal and rest breaks for every ...