UPDATE: American Airlines Says 9 PDX Flights Now Cancelled

As many as 1,000 flights nationwide could be cancelled today by the airline.

Photo courtesy: AA.com

(PORTLAND, Ore. ) - American Airlines, who has cancelled some 850 flights nationwide today conduct additional inspections of its MD-80 fleet to ensure precise and complete compliance with the Federal Aviation Administration’s airworthiness directive related to the bundling of wires in the aircraft’s wheel wells, says now that one inbound flight to Portland International Airport in Portland, Ore. is now on-time.

However, as of 10:55 AM one inbound flight is on-time, while 9 others have now been cancelled. Three Thursday morning flights out of PDX are also listed as on-time.

“We’ve been working in good faith to ensure that we are in complete compliance with this airworthiness directive,” said Gerard Arpey, Chairman and CEO of American Airlines. “We regret and apologize that we are once again causing inconvenience to our customers, but we will continue to work in good faith until we satisfy all of the technical issues related to this airworthiness directive.”

American will re-accommodate customers on other American flights or on flights operated by airlines in the same market. Customers may be automatically notified of flight changes; they should also check AA.com or with their travel agents for flight status.

The FAA raised additional concerns regarding the recent inspection of American’s aircraft and the manner in which American followed the engineering change order (ECO) that had been written for the airworthiness directive related to the wiring in the MD-80s wheel wells. Specifically, some areas of concern included the spacing of the ties on the wiring bundle and the direction in which the retention clips and lacing cords were facing.

American has assigned teams of employees that include aviation maintenance technicians, quality assurance inspectors, and engineers to inspect the aircraft and ensure full compliance, as well as to make the necessary adjustments.

American Airlines PDX Flights For Today:

Time-Type-City-Status-Flight#-Gate

1. 11:30 AM Arrival Dallas/Ft Worth CANCELLED 1185 C9 5

2. 12:10 PM Departure Dallas/Ft Worth, Richmond CANCELLED 1286 C9

3. 12:45 PM Arrival Chicago O'Hare CANCELLED 1687 C9 5

4. 2:05 PM Departure Chicago O'Hare CANCELLED 1584 C9

5. 2:30 PM Arrival Dallas/Ft Worth CANCELLED 453 C9 5

6. 3:10 PM Departure Dallas/Ft Worth CANCELLED 522 C9

7. 6:45 PM Arrival NYC/Newark, Dallas/Ft Worth CANCELLED 677 C9 5

8. 8:30 PM Arrival Austin, Dallas/Ft Worth CANCELLED 1619 C9 5

9. 9:35 PM Arrival Chicago O'Hare CANCELLED 1689 C9 5

10. 11:30 PM Arrival Dallas/Ft Worth ON TIME 2211 C9 5

To check flights in and out of PDX visit: www.flypdx.com/flights.aspx
Source: American Airlines/Portland International Airport