American Airlines cancels flights over shortage of flight attendants

American Airlines has cancelled about 1,600 flights over the past three days, citing blustery conditions in Texas and a shortage of flight attendants.

The disruptions were similar in their initial cause and size to problems suffered in early October by Southwest Airlines, and they raised ominous questions about whether major airlines are prepared for the busy upcoming holiday travel period.

By midday Sunday, American had cancelled more than 700 flights almost 30 per cent of its schedule for the day after scrapping nearly 900 flights on Friday and Saturday, according to tracking service FlightAware.