American Airlines Cancels 900 More Flights

From CNN
American Airlines canceled more than 900 flights Thursday as it continues to perform safety inspections on certain jets. It's the third consecutive day of cancellations for American Airlines, which has apologized to customers and offered to make amends with refunds, vouchers, and compensation for overnight stays. American also canceled several hundred flights for the same reason about two weeks ago. Roger Frizzell, an airline spokesman, said the inspections involve technical compliance as opposed to flight safety. Alaska Airlines said it had canceled 11 flights on Thursday for safety checks. Midwest Airlines canceled at least 10 Thursday flights, a spokesman told The Associated Press. Delta, Southwest, and United Airlines also have canceled a number of flights in recent weeks for safety checks. American Airlines canceled 1,094 flights on Wednesday -- 43 percent of its total daily flights -- and 460 flights the day before, the company said in a statement. The flights were scrapped so inspectors could make sure the airline complied with a federal directive relating to how wires should be bundled in the wheel well of MD-80 jets, the company said. "We apologize for the inconvenience this has caused our customers," Chief Executive Gerard Arpey said in a statement. "American will do whatever it takes to assist those affected by these flight changes, and our employees are working hard to ensure that we remain their choice for air travel." Inspectors had checked 179 of the 300 MD-80s in American's fleet by Wednesday afternoon, the company said. It said 60 of the 179 returned to service while 119 were "still undergoing work." Passengers scheduled to fly on an American Airlines MD-80 between Tuesday and Friday can receive a full refund or apply the value of their ticket to a future flight, the airline said. People who stayed overnight as a result of a canceled flight can contact the company's Web site to inquire about receiving compensation.