American Airlines flight attendants and mechanics want to resume contract talks with the airline, and pilots appear to be ready to vote on an offer.
Leaders of the pilots union rejected a proposed deal last week, saying they still had questions, but they now seem ready to vote again.
"I think the pilots will vote on it, and I think it will pass -- close, but it will pass," said aviation analyst Denny Kelly.
A federal bankruptcy judge is scheduled to rule Friday whether to void the airline's current contracts.
Kelly said the proposed contract might be the best option, "compared to what they have now and what they could lose -- you know, the old adage of the devil you know is better than the devil you don't know."
Fort Worth-based American is now offering a 17 percent cut in pilot costs with no layoffs instead of an earlier 20 percent cut that included eliminating 400 pilot jobs.
If pilots reject the offer, the judge could throw out their current contracts and allow the airline to temporarily slash pay and benefits on its own.
