American Airlines had to cancel today's 7 a.m. flight to New York.

The noon flight might also have to be cancelled as the carrier's flight attendants strike entered its fourth day yesterday, American Airlines local manager Mrs. Carole DeCouto said.

However, most of the stranded passengers, who were all visitors to the Island, had said they would rather be stuck in Bermuda than New York while enroute to their final destinations.

She added that for the past four days everyone booked on American Airlines had been accommodated on other carriers.

She did not know how many Bermudians and holiday makers abroad were affected by the strike, or if any had been stranded there.

But all three incoming American Airlines flights yesterday arrived minus passengers, though with cargo and mail.

She and her Airport staff had been working overtime to find seats for all passengers.

And she thanked the other airlines serving Bermuda, especially Continental, US Air and Northwest, for their cooperation and help in accommodating them.

Northwest had gone out of its way, she said.

Meanwhile, Bermuda Industrial Union president Mr. Ottiwell Simmons MP refused to comment on his Airport members' planned "hands-off'' approach to American Airlines flights while the strike lasted.

Labour Minister the Hon. J. Irving Pearman said he had not heard from the BIU on the action, which is in support of the flight attendants.

Mrs. DeCouto was hoping for an end soon to the planned 11-day strike by the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, which represents 21,000 members at American.

She did not know if things would run as smoothly this week. Those of the average 200,000 passengers American Airlines carries each day who were bumped by the strike have been competing for a dwindling number of seats on rival airlines. Other carriers were accepting American tickets, but empty seats are harder to find as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches.

But things do not look good as the chairman of American Airlines dug his heels in yesterday and refused a call from striking flight attendants for a presidential mediation board.

Mr. Robert L. Crandall announced up to two-thirds of this week's flights would be cancelled.

In hopes of placating thousands of inconvenienced travellers, Mr. Crandall said holders of unused, non-refundable tickets could get their money back. In addition to a refund, displaced passengers also will get a $100 voucher towards an American ticket in the coming year.