American Airlines has already clearly expressed its annoyance with any of its pilots who may be staging “sick-outs,” causing delayed or canceled flights in the midst of an ongoing dispute with the company, and now the acting president of the union that represents those same pilots is also telling them to simmer down now.

Acting President Keith Wilson says the Allied Pilots Association isn’t behind the pilots’ shenanigans — which include filing maintenance write-ups just for the heck of it and flying circuitous routes — and  “that activity must cease immediately.”

According to the Associated Press, Wilson addressed members in a memo last night saying the union was quick to respond when American Airlines accused pilots of calling in sick to protest their lack of a labor deal with the company.

American Airlines is threatening legal action against the union if the pilots don’t quit fooling around. The company’s senior vice president says pilots are conducting “an unlawful, concerted effort to damage the company.”

Just yesterday American had to cancel 100 flights, about 5.4% of its schedule, and a measly 49.9% of those that did take off arrived on time. Today the airline has already canceled 32 flights, which is three times as many as United Airlines.

Leader of American pilots: Don’t slow down flights [Associated Press]

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