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The Italian airline Alitalia said it could cancel up to 250 flights the next day because staff were refusing to obey union calls to put off a planned strike.
Unions had earlier Sunday suspended a disruptive strike ahead of a meeting with the government to try to resolve their dispute over working conditions.
"We want a credible work plan and we're waiting for the government to intervene in the current management of Alitalia," said union leader Mauro Rossi.
The strike that began Thursday grounded more than 200 flights, according to unions protesting what they say are worsening working conditions, imposed by management in an effort to cut costs as part of its reorganization plan.
But employees appeared reluctant Sunday to heed their unions' call.
"Because of the extension of illegal union initiatives, 121 flights have been cancelled Sunday across the whole network," Alitalia said in a statement.
"As a consequence of these acts many delays are predicted for the day of Monday as well as cancellations which could reach the figure of 250 across the network."
"There is a danger that we will not get back to normal Monday and Tuesday because there is a lot of exasperation, a lot of anger and we are in a risky situation," said Guglielmo Epifani, national secretary of the chief CGIL union.
"Staff are worried about the future of the business and their jobs."
The strikers and their unions face heavy penalties as their action is considered illegal, since they did not give the required 10 days notice.
A reorganization plan for Alitalia launched in late 2004 called for cutting 3,700 jobs and a split between ground operations and transport activities. The company last year took further measures, including mortgaging aircraft.
In November, Alitalia increased its capital by one billion euros (1.2 billion dollars), allowing the Italian state's stake in the national air carrier to fall below 50 percent.
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