American Airlines cancels hundreds of weekend flights

By DAVID KOENIG
AP Airlines Writer

DALLAS (AP) — Flight cancellations are skyrocketing at American Airlines. The airline has canceled more than 900 flights on Sunday, or one-third of its schedule for the day. That brings American’s three-day total to more than 1,800 canceled flights. The airline is blaming staffing shortages and high winds that at times shut down its busiest airport, Dallas/Fort Worth International, late last week. It’s similar to a meltdown at Southwest Airlines three weeks ago. American says about 1,800 flight attendants are returning from leave soon, and it expects to hire at least 600 more by year end. American also says it’s hiring pilots and reservations agents to gear up for the holidays.