[Falcon4]

Coronado HS Band in El Paso was scheduled to travel to Italy on 15 Jun 2010 for a goodwill concert tour in four cities. The band contracted to fly on American Airlines from El Paso to Chicago, Chicago to NY, NY to Milan, and return 24 June. On 14 June we were notified to NOT go to the airport because AA had canceled the shortest most traveled leg from Chicago to NY. We expected a new departure the next morning. AA offered to take half the band 5 days later on 20 Jun and the other half on 21 Jun and gave us 20 hours to make the decision. After the concerts and hotels were rescheduled and we agreed to the new dates, AA withdrew their offer and said they did not have enough seats. The entire trip was canceled. These gifted, young musicians had spent 13 months planning and working for this trip. All expenses were paid in advance including airfare, hotels, and tours. There were numerous fund raisers and part-time jobs required to fund these deserving children. The behavior of AA toward a volunteer, unpaid, musical tour group representing the USA is unacceptable. This group could not be split because of the unaccompanied minors. AA has had our money for 10 months and they backed out at the last minute. This is not a safety issue; it is a choice by AA to not reposition a plane in their fleet. With such a large group of children traveling and 10 months notice, there should have been a contingency plan.