DALLAS (AP) — American Airlines pilots have approved a new contract that will raise their pay about 41% over four years, their union said Monday.

The Allied Pilots Association said that 73% of pilots who took part voted in favor of the four-year contract, which it valued at $9.6 billion.

"This contract is a big first step toward restoring the wages, benefits, and work rules that were lost during the past two decades while our profession was under continuous assault," said union President Ed Sicher. He said pilots deserved to be compensated in line with the "tremendous amount of responsibility" they take with every flight.

American has about 15,000 pilots.

Airline unions are enjoying leverage to get big pay raises because a boom in travel is lifting airline revenue. Texas-based American earned $1.3 billion in the second quarter alone, helped by strong ticket sales, record revenue, and a drop in the price of jet fuel.

Pilot unions have been in particularly strong position because of a shortage that is being felt most keenly at smaller carriers. Pilots at American rejected an offer last November. They reached another agreement in late July, which was renegotiated again to match a better deal for pilots at United Airlines. Pilots at Delta Air Lines also won big pay raises this year.

Pilots at Southwest Airlines are still in negotiations.

The Allied Pilots Association said its new contract with American includes $1.1 billion in one-time payments and ratification bonuses and immediate pay raises averaging 21%. Annual raises, plus increased company contributions to retirement plans will raise the value of total compensation by 46% over four years, according to the union.

It also includes more vacation benefits and changes designed to give pilots more predictable schedules, the union said.

Airline industry labor contracts do not expire — that's part of a federal law designed to make strikes nearly impossible. Rather, they become open for change or "amendable" at their conclusion. Bargaining on the next contract for American's pilots could begin as soon as November 2026.