KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Airline analysts say this summer's schedule chaos on United Air Lines could threaten its merger with U.S. Airways. United and its pilots are struggling to come up with a new labor contract. More on that from Anna Quevas (ph) in Chicago.</s>ANNA QUEVAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The lines are shorter, and on the surface business seems to be back to normal at United after the airline announced it was trimming its schedule. But tensions between the airline and its pilots continue as negotiations to resolve the labor dispute remain stalled.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This deal will get done when the company's ready to have it done, and we maintain that that's still the circumstance.</s>QUEVAS: United has been in contract negotiations with its pilots since April of last year. Many pilots are refusing to work extra hours as a way to pressure the company into a new contract. Illinois Senator Dick Durbin met with both sides in an effort to speed a resolution.</s>SEN. DICK DURBIN (D), ILLINOIS: But I think the management and the pilots understand that they have to roll up their sleeves and resolve this as quickly as possible.</s>QUEVAS: It's estimated United has already lost about $150 million this summer due to the dispute. It's also an embarrassment for the official carrier of the Democratic National Convention. That's where Illinois Congressman Luis Gutierrez was headed. He says he now has doubts about the merger of United and U.S. Airways, which is waiting for government approval.</s>REP. LUIS GUTIERREZ (D), ILLINOIS: If you can't manage and ensure that you can manage one airline property, I think it -- I think we seriously have to contemplate looking at and evaluating whether or not you deserve to have a second.</s>QUEVAS (on camera): Both sides have agreed to continue negotiating over the weekend, hoping to come up with a solution by next week, a lot sooner than the original Labor Day deadline. Anna Quevas, CNN, Chicago.
United Labor Chaos Could Threaten Merger with U.S. Airways