The airline's future hangs in the balance

The attendants have been given 24 hours to change their mind after voting to reject the deal by a narrow margin.

The company says the future of 100,000 jobs rests on the outcome of a fresh round of voting on Wednesday.

Don Carty, chairman of American's parent company AMR, said: "I must make completely clear that if we fail to secure flight attendant ratification by tomorrow (Wednesday), we are - regrettably - left with no alternative but to immediately file for bankruptcy."

Agreements secured

Earlier, American Airlines' mechanics voted to accept cuts in pay and conditions adding up to about $300m a year.

The pilots union has also ratified an agreement that cuts its members' wages and benefits by $660m.

This is our last chance to avoid bankruptcy Don Carty, AMR chairman

The airline has said it needs all three unions to agree a deal to avoid being forced to file for bankruptcy.

Members of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants rejected the deal, which would cut annual pay and benefits by $340m, by about 500 votes.

New vote

A union spokesman said members who did not vote - or who cast their votes early - will be allowed to vote or change their vote by 2200 GMT on Wednesday.

The wider crisis Combined debts of $100bn Bookings down 40% 70,000 jobs at risk Are other airlines flying towards extinction?

The new vote could ultimately overturn Tuesday's tally - saving American from the bankruptcy courts.

The carrier has said the three pay deals will help save it $1.8bn a year in labour costs.

Don Carty said almost 10,000 jobs and the "future of 100,000 employees" was hanging in the balance.

'No alternative'

He said: "We believe that all employees will be better off if we can save jobs and restructure our costs consensually rather than through the bankruptcy process.

"This is our last chance to avoid bankruptcy."

AMR met millions of dollars in loan payments due on Tuesday, pending the flight attendants' revote Wednesday.

With another round of loan payments due on Wednesday, Mr Carty said the airline must have pay agreements in place.