 American could axe 900 flight attendants
(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-07-04 07:45 American Airlines says it could cut 900 flight attendant jobs as it reduces flights to cope with record high fuel costs. The Fort Worth-based airline expects to reduce jobs for pilots and mechanics too, but it hasn't released numbers yet. American, the largest US carrier, said that job cuts were necessary "to overcome near-term challenges and secure our company's long-term future". In May, American announced it would cut capacity 11 percent to 12 percent later this year, retire some planes and cut an unspecified number of jobs.
Federal law requires employers to give 60 days notice of major layoffs, and officials of the flight attendants' union said they received a notice Wednesday of job reductions that could start on Aug 31. Airlines and union officials said they would try to reduce layoffs through attrition or by employees voluntarily taking leaves of absence or sharing jobs. American has about 18,000 active flight attendants, so 900 jobs represents 5 percent of the ranks. "We've all been sitting on the edge of our seats waiting for a number," said Frank Bastien, a spokesman for the Association of Professional Flight Attendants. "Most of us were pretty pleased it wasn't higher." Flight attendants had feared more job losses after the company said last week it would reduce management and support staff jobs by 8 percent. American has about 82,000 employees. American said it reached agreement with the union to offer voluntary measures such as leaves of absence to US-based flight attendants 50 and older with at least 15 years of service. The airline said it struck a similar deal with the Transport Workers Union, which represents mechanics and bag handlers. American and sister airline American Eagle expect to spend more than $10 billion on jet fuel this year, up from $6.7 billion last year. American is the latest airline to put a number on possible job cuts and reduced flying due to rising fuel costs and widening losses. Continental Airlines Inc is cutting 3,000 jobs and grounding 67 jets, and offered voluntary-departure packages to employees with at least 10 years experience. UAL Corp's United Airlines, the second-largest carrier, plans to eliminate 950 pilot jobs and 1,600 salaried positions. Delta Air Lines Inc is shedding 4,000 jobs. Agencies (China Daily 07/04/2008 page16) |
