American quickens pace of work on MD-80s

By John Crawley

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - American Airlines accelerated inspections and related work on Friday to get its MD-80 planes back in service after a nightmare week for the carrier that saw it cancel more than 3,000 flights over a recurring safety issue, affecting 300,000 travelers.

American, a unit of AMR Corp, said it hoped to have all of its 300 MD-80 aircraft ready to go on Saturday afternoon, with expectations it would run its first full daily schedule in nearly a week on Sunday.

Still, it canceled 200 flights on Saturday after cutting out 595 flights on Friday.

The new timetable for full service was a change from Thursday, when AMR chief executive Gerard Arpey said it could take several days to run inspections and complete related work that has twice failed to satisfy the requirements of a Federal Aviation Administration safety order.

"Something quickened last night," said American spokesman Tim Wagner of the schedule for getting American back on its feet.

Safety experts largely agree the FAA, despite claims it may have overreacted to politically charged assertions of lax oversight, acted prudently in forcing American to ground planes on Tuesday to reinspect and better secure wiring.

The White House also acknowledged the agency's decision- making on safety issues on Friday. Presidential spokesman Scott Stanzel said President George W. Bush has faith in the FAA under acting administrator Robert Sturgell.

"First and foremost we want airline passengers to be safe," Stanzel said. "We have a safe airline transportation system."