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US Airlines To Shed 36,000 Jobs

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CaptJax

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 3, 2006
Posts
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US airlines poised to shed 36,000 jobs
AP ONLINE
Posted: 2008-09-05 14:21:00

DALLAS (AP) _ Airlines are contributing to the increase in unemployment, as they slash thousands of jobs to save money in the midst of higher fuel costs.

Carriers plan to cut about 36,000 jobs by the end of the year, according to the Air Transport Association, a trade group for the largest U.S. airlines.

The airlines are cutting flights — reducing U.S. capacity about 9 percent, ATA estimates — so they don't need as many pilots, flight attendants and baggage handlers.

On Friday, the Labor Department announced that the unemployment rate jumped to 6.1 percent in August, from 5.7 percent in July, crossing the psychological barrier of 6 percent joblessness.

The Labor Department said jobs in air transportation fell only about 3,000 in August. But many of the job cuts announced by U.S. airlines haven't taken place yet — meaning the worst is yet to come.

AMR Corp., parent of American Airlines, the nation's largest carrier, has announced it will cut 8 percent of its work force or about 6,800 jobs. Spokesman Tim Wagner said Friday, "We are not fully there yet."

This week American sent layoff notices to 469 workers at five U.S. airports, the latest in a series of similar moves to comply with laws requiring notice to those affected by large-scale job cuts. The airline said it hopes to avoid layoffs by offering voluntary severance packages.

UAL Corp.'s United Airlines is cutting 7,000 jobs by the end of 2009, and Continental Airlines Inc. will shed 3,000 by the end of this year.

Continental spokeswoman Julie King said more than 90 percent of the positions were eliminated through voluntary leave, early retirements and job-sharing, although 140 to 180 pilots will be laid off beginning next week.

Delta Air Lines Inc. said it would shed 4,000 jobs, and Northwest Airlines Corp., which Delta is buying, plans to cut 2,500 jobs. US Airways Group Inc. has said it would trim 2,000.

The outlook for a recovery in the airline industry is compounded by a combination of high fuel costs and weakening demand that is spreading from the United States to international markets that had been strong. The sluggish economy is also taking a toll on air transport of cargo.

The Air Transport Association forecasts that U.S. airlines will lose $7 billion to $10 billion this year, although the estimate was issued before the recent decrease in oil prices, which should show up in cheaper jet fuel. David Castelveter, a spokesman for the group, said fuel prices haven't come down enough to make airlines profitable.

Some analysts believe that airlines could rebound if oil prices continue to drop and reductions in airline capacity — about 10 percent for U.S. carriers as a whole later this year — result in higher fares. It's tough to say whether that will reverse the job losses.

"It's too early to say when it will come back," Castelveter said. "Airlines would have to increase capacity before they start hiring again."
 
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GWB says you're welcome.


Apparently your understanding of our government is off. Then again, you probably don't care about understanding - it's always typical to just accuse people you don't like for your misfortunes.

As for the facts, the current 110th Congress is controlled by Democrats in both the House and the Senate.
 
Drill Drill Drill.. NOW.. We need to make it clear to the oil companies that we want them to invest more into domestic oil and natural gas..

IMHO, if we the us only say go for alternative fuels, then the oil companies will not (as the have not in the past 20 years) invest in more domestic production..

We need to do both, I personally think the Pickens plan is a great first step in the direction we must take now... right now..

IN the near future, the oil can be used for aircraft, and rail services, the Pickens plan has the entire trucking fleet moved to natural gas conversion saving the US 30% of the current oil demand... All of us can convert to Naturl gas or got to hybrids which shold be abundant in 5 years...

If we go with the Obama plan, its just not as clear yet what he wants to do but it's not drilling for more domestic resources, yet.. either way, I dont think it's fair to blame GWB for the oil mess.. this has been a problem comming for 30 years and many presidents, and its a resource that is controlled by a world market not the US... again, JMHO

Does anyone know of any viable near-future plans to power airliners by any alternative fuel?
 
GWB appointed NMB members that are anti labor. Guess who appoints those so called "judges" for airline bankruptcy.

Hey you got the security you wanted. A occupation taking twice as long as it should have. Big brother at home. And a lack of security in your work place.

You got exactly what you voted for.
 
GWB appointed NMB members that are anti labor.

That's true. But none of the legacies are in BK right now. It's management that is the enemy. Oil companies right behind. GW isn't even smart enough to ruin the airlines if he tried.
 
That's true. But none of the legacies are in BK right now. It's management that is the enemy. Oil companies right behind. GW isn't even smart enough to ruin the airlines if he tried.

Management has been a bigger enemy than any President or Congress. Bill Clinton extended AA cooling off period, so what. Management is responsible for the health of the airline not the government.
 
Management has been a bigger enemy than any President or Congress. Bill Clinton extended AA cooling off period, so what. Management is responsible for the health of the airline not the government.


Most intelligent post I've seen on here in a LONG time...

Management is the true enemy... especially if you are Johnny O

PS

MESA SUCKS!
 

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