NEW YORK (CNNfn) - American Airlines management and the carrier's flight attendants were due to resume negotiations Friday, facing a deadline less than two days away for federal intervention in their talks on a new contract.

Negotiators returned to the table Thursday and held mediated talks for 12 hours before breaking just before midnight. There is greater pressure on the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, since the union is seen as being at a disadvantage if President Bush follows through on his promise to appoint a "presidential emergency board" to resolve the labor dispute if no agreement is reached by the 12:01 a.m. Sunday deadline.