FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) - American Airlines today announced it
could cut 900 flight attendant jobs while reducing its schedule to
cope with record high fuel costs.
Fort Worth-based American says job cuts are necessary to
overcome near-term challenges and secure the company's long-term
future.
The nation's largest carrier expects to reduce jobs for pilots
and mechanics too, but it hasn't released numbers yet.
American in May announced it will cut capacity by up 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.
The flight attendants union received notice today of job
reductions that could start August 31st.
Airlines and union officials say they'll 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.