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2:01 PM PDT -- American Airlines said it expected to resume a normal schedule Sunday, ending a series of flight cancellations the airline was forced to make to inspect its MD-80 jetliners for compliance with federal safety rules.

The airline said it canceled 200 flights today as it completed the inspection of wires in the wheel wells of its aircraft.

The scene at American's terminal at Los Angeles International Airport was noticeably calmer today than it had been earlier in the week, when the cancellations began. With just a handful of scrubbed departures, most travelers were checking in for their flights quickly.

But for passenger Folkert Uhde, the week's rash of cancellations still stung.

Uhde, a tour manager, was traveling with a 16-member baroque orchestra from Berlin, Germany, on Wednesday when the group's American flight from Washington to Chicago was canceled.

With a concert in Urbana, Ill., scheduled for the next day, the touring group rode a charter bus through the night rather than wait for a new flight.

Although they made it in time, Uhde, 43, said the disruption took a toll on the musicians.

"It was a maximum inconvenience," he said while waiting to check in for the group's flight to San Francisco for their next performance. "Traveling and performing are very exhausting. So if you miss the time to relax between concerts, it really is very difficult to recover."

American said customers with canceled flights who were forced to make unanticipated overnight stays should go to AA.com, where a link has been established to request information about compensation.

The airline also advised passengers to check its website for the latest flight status information.

andrea.chang@latimes.com

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