American says it is losing $5m a day

They voted by 10,761 to 9,652 to join pilots, mechanics and other ground staff in backing the plan which the airline says will save $1.8bn a year in labour costs.

Cabin crew had earlier rejected the package by less than 500 votes, but the outcome was reversed after the voting deadline was extended by 30 hours.

This has been a race against the clock Don Carty, AMR chairman

In a statement after the result, parent company AMR expressed thanks, but warned that the world's biggest carrier "is not out of the woods".

"Given the hostile financial and business environment we find ourselves in and its inherent risks, the success of our efforts is not assured," said AMR chairman Don Carty said.

Diminished market

He had earlier warned that American Airlines would be "left with no alternative" to seek protection from creditors if the attendants rejected the deal.

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

The package involves redundancies, salary cuts and reduced benefits for the company's 24,000 flight attendants.

The future of 100,000 jobs rested on the outcome, he said.

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

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

The result means American Airlines' managers will continue to run the business and fight to trim losses, rather than handing over to a judge who would have taken control if the company had filed for bankruptcy protection.

The airline says it is losing $5m a day.

Over the past two years, it has made losses of $5.3bn as a result of a weak economy, the effects of the 11 September attacks and tough competition from low-cost operators.