Bloomberg Law
June 24, 2022, 2:00 PM

Flight Attendant Case Tests If State Labor Laws Trump FAA Rules

Alan Levin
Alan Levin
Bloomberg News

A California law requiring rest and meal breaks for workers has become a fierce battleground between airlines and flight attendants that may soon draw in the US Supreme Court.

At stake is whether carriers are subject to local labor laws, or can instead follow federal aviation rules that are more focused on passenger safety than working conditions. Airlines say having to abide disparate state regulations could cause chaos at a time when the industry is already struggling to cope with a surge in travel demand amid a worker shortage.

Within days, the high court’s justices are set to decide ...