An industry analyst says United Airlines’ lawsuit against the Air Line Pilots Association could hurt the already struggling company.

Chicago-based United accuses the Air Line Pilots Association of abusing sick time to protest the company’s plan to lay off pilots. United says the pilots’ actions have caused hundreds of flight cancellations. U.S. editor for Airline Business magazine David Field says United is taking a big risk. He says the suit could damage the airline’s relationship with the union and customers.

FIELD: You may end up getting people who say, ‘I’m not going to bleep put up with this. And I’m going to go out to Midway and fly Southwest.’ It cannot help United in the long run. And that’s why I have to suspect that United really believes it has a case to make here.

Field says flight cuts and pilot layoffs expected this fall will likely overshadow the lawsuit. Meantime the pilots union says United’s announcement of its lawsuit contained inaccurate information.