American Airlines Still Flying to Virgin Islands

This is an article from today's The Source. Fortunately, www.stjohnvillarental.com will still get lots of visitors because American Airlines is still flying here. That is good. And let's not forget Frank Bay Villas either, www.frankbayvillas.com. No American Airlines Flight Cancellations in Virgin Islandsby Lynda Lohr
April 10, 2008 -- There are no canceled American Airlines flights to and from Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas and Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on St. Croix because American does not use the problematic MD-80 airplanes in the territory, an airline spokeswoman said Thursday. American was forced to cancel 900 flights Thursday, the third day of cancellations necessary so it can inspect its MD-80 airplanes to comply with Federal Aviation Administration orders. The airline also does not fly MD-80s out of Miami, so passengers connecting there won't experience any problems either, spokeswoman Martha Pantin said. Cancellations elsewhere in the American system haven't caused any slowdowns at Miami International Airport, she said. However, passengers connecting through JFK International Airport in New York should check to make sure their connecting flight isn't one of the ones canceled. "By Saturday, we expect all the planes to be flying again," Pantin said. There were no cancellations at San Juan International Airport because MD80s don't fly to Puerto Rico, either. American Eagle, which flies from St. Thomas and St. Croix to San Juan, also does not use MD-80s. Customers scheduled on a canceled flight may request a full refund or apply the value of their ticket to future travel on American, according to American's website. Additionally, customers scheduled to travel on any MD-80 flight from April 8 through 11, even if their flight was not canceled, may rebook without a change fee to any AA flight with availability in the same cabin as long as their travel begins by April 17. Published reports indicate the airline canceled 2,400 flights since Tuesday. It was the second cancellation in two weeks. American had to cancel flights the second time because the FAA said it didn't comply with its original orders. "We've been working in good faith to ensure that we are in complete compliance with this airworthiness directive," said Gerard Arpey, chairman and chief executive officer of American Airlines, according to a news release on the airline's website. "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." The issue relates to wiring in the airplane's wheel wells. The FAA raised additional concerns about the recent inspection of American's aircraft, and the manner in which American followed the engineering change order written for the airworthiness directive related to the wiring in the MD-80s' wheel wells, according to the release. 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. Published reports indicate the FAA was concerned that frayed wiring could allow arcing, which in turn could ignite a fire in nearby fuel tanks.