United Gets Leaner And Meaner
Its more layoffs for United Air Lines. The company announced Monday it would trim another 1,250 jobs in an attempt to save another $100 million per year. The airline will close three reservation centers, a maintenance line and switch five of its routes over to United Express service. The company also reached an agreement with four of its five unions to reduce labor expenses by $5.8 billion. Theyll need it. United announced Monday that it had suffered a net loss of $889 million. The company hopes the new plan will help secure a $1.8 billion bailout from the Air Transportation Stabilization Board. The biggest problem, of course, is that potential pax are doing everything they can to stay out of the skies. It doesnt help matters that two of Uniteds planes were used in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. If its close enough to drive, many will, according to a survey conducted by D.K. Shifflet & Associates Ltd. in Falls Church, Va. The number of people flying commercially between 200 and 400 miles fell 22 percent in the year after the terrorist attacks of 9/11.
