Tribune Co., publisher of the Baltimore Sun and Los Angeles Times, said it asked for more time to submit its restructuring plan in bankruptcy court, according to a memo sent to employees today.

The Chicago-based publisher filed a motion seeking an extension to March 31 to submit its plan, according to the memo co-written by Chief Administration Officer Gerald Spector and Chief Operating Officer Randy Michaels.

Tribune, which sought bankruptcy protection in December, said it expects operating cash flow of $400 million this year, which is double its previous expectations.

Gary Weitman, a spokesman for Tribune, declined in an interview to comment beyond the memo.

Tribune Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sam Zell said in an Oct. 28 Bloomberg Television interview he expected the company, which also owns 23 U.S. television stations, would emerge from bankruptcy by the end of the first quarter "with some reasonable luck."

Zell took Tribune private in a 2007 deal that saddled the company with about $13 billion in debt.