American back to normal schedule

American Airlines said Sunday that its flights had resumed normal schedules after last week’s mass cancellations and issued directions for customers seeking compensation or alternate flights.

“It’s been a good day. We’re back to full operational schedule,” spokesman Charley Wilson said.

Late Sunday, the airline was still rerouting passengers whose flights had been canceled.

“We are still scaling that peak,” Wilson said. “We’re not quite there yet.”

Passengers with Monday reservations would be able to board their scheduled flights, he said.

Inspections of the airline’s fleet of MD-80 jets -- which are on average 18 years old -- caused the abrupt cancellation of more than 2,000 flights. More than 100,000 travelers were affected.

The airline said customers with reservations on canceled flights were entitled to full refunds. Additionally, passengers who had been scheduled to fly on American’s MD-80 flights Tuesday through Sunday, including flights that weren’t canceled, may reschedule their trips through Thursday without paying the usual change fees.

American also will consider compensating people whose flight cancellations resulted in overnight hotel stays. The airline’s website instructed them to e-mail for more information.

Bundled wires in the wheel wells of the MD-80s were the subject of the inspections. Proper bundling of the wires is important in preventing shorting or sparks that could lead to a fire hazard or loss of power.

--

peter.hong@latimes.com