this week was cancelled due to a union disagreement.

American Airlines flight number 1444, scheduled to arrive in Bermuda from New York at 10 p.m. on Sunday, never left John F. Kennedy International Airport.

American Airlines general manager Carol DeCouto said according to the information she received, the cockpit crew had phoned in sick and no replacements could be found to fly the plane.

She stated the 108 passengers who were due to fly out on yesterday morning's flight had been accommodated on other carriers or re-booked on this morning's flight.

She was unable to comment further and could not say whether this was a result of the "work slowdown'' implemented by the unions in protest of the integration of low cost carrier Reno Air into American Airlines.

American Airlines bought the West Coast operation in November of last year for $124 million amid fears from American pilots that the company would attempt to keep Reno Air as a separate airline due to the lower operating costs.

The union fears that American Airlines would attempt to increase the size of Reno Air's operations to the detriment of the more expensive American Airline routes.

American Airlines has denied these accusations and said Reno Air will not be kept separate but will be fully integrated into American Airlines operations within 12 to 18 months.

An American Airlines spokeswoman said last night that the flight from New York due in at 10 p.m. had left New York on schedule and any delay would be due to weather conditions and not strike action.

UNIONS UNS