American Airlines continued to cancel flights Friday as their MD-80 jets undergo maintenance reviews.

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The cancellations and delays left flyers at PDX and even those with summer travel plans wondering: What next?

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Authorities also said that the flight cancellations would likely spread to other U.S. airlines in the weeks ahead as federal regulators step up a by-the-book review of carriers' compliance with maintenance and safety orders issued in recent years.

American Airlines canceled about 1000 flights Wednesday across the nation.

Also on Wednesday, Alaska cancelled 14 flights system-wide, including 6 through Portland, to conduct similar inspections.

The cancellations created chaos and frustation at PDX airport.

"I was so stressed. I thought she was joking and I was like, 'Are you serious?' " said Kendra Jenkins of Vancouver. She was stranded at PDX on her way to Dayton, Ohio. American

"Would have been nice if they had notified us," said Esta Quinnell. "I drove all the way from Medford, yesterday just to catch this flight," said Quinnell, who was headed to Florida for a cruise in the Bahamas. "I was smart enough to buy the travel insurance, so if I don't make my connections, American is going to pay for it," she said.

Others were not so lucky.

"I was doing fine until I got here, then we found out that cancellations were onboard." Richard Herinckx and his wife were headed to New Orleans for a Mississippi River cruise. Herinckx was the very last person in line. "I'm lucky aren't I?" he asked sarcastically. Most passengers were either moved to later American Airlines flights or flights on other airlines.

"I think they're trying to do some connecting flights, so I hope we're a part of that," said Steve Keels of Portland. According to American Airlines, arriving and departing flight cancellations out of Portland were expected to continue until at least 9:35 Wednesday night.

American spokesman Tim Wagner says 208 of those flights canceled Wednesday are at the carrier's main hub at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Those cancelations also impacted other connecting flights across the nation.

The nation's largest carrier canceled nearly 500 flights on Tuesday.

It's the second wave of cancellations at American over the same issue. American is inspecting and - if necessary - reworking wiring bundles on its MD-80 aircraft to comply with federal safety rules.

The airline operates about 2,300 daily flights. Airline officials say passenger safety was never compromised.