American Airlines today canceled more than 1,000 flights, or nearly half of its schedule, as it continues inspections of its MD-80 fleet. The carrier on Tuesday canceled 460 MD-80 flights to inspect wire bundling in the aircraft wheel wells "to ensure precise and complete compliance with the Federal Aviation Administration's airworthiness directive," but said it is not a safety-of-flight issue.
"We continue to inspect every airplane to ensure we are in total agreement with the specifications of the directive. We will get back to a full schedule as quickly as possible," AA CEO Gerard Arpey said in a statement Wednesday.
This is the second time in two weeks American has cancelled hundreds of flights in order to conduct inspections of its fleet
(BTNonline, Mar. 26).
The carrier said it would accommodate customers on flights with American or another airline in the same market.
Southwest Airlines in March cancelled flights and removed 38 aircraft from service to perform inspections, following FAA allegations that it had failed to complete them
(BTNonline, Mar. 12). In the midst of FAA audits of aircraft maintenance records, American, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines cancelled flights in order to inspect aircraft
(BTNonline, April 2).