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Jul 15, 2008 5:00 pm US/Eastern
American Airlines To Cut 200 Pilot Jobs
Company Already Slated To Eliminate 900 Flight Attendants
DALLAS (AP) ―
American Airlines is cutting 200 pilot jobs as it sheds 8 percent of its work force to cope with higher costs for jet fuel.
American, the nation's largest airline, gave its pilots union a plan Tuesday that includes incentives for senior pilots to leave voluntarily.
A spokesman for the Allied Pilots Association said the union needed time to review the proposal.
Executives told employees two weeks ago that they plan to eliminate 8 percent of the work force at American and sister carrier American Eagle, or about 6,800 jobs.
They have indicated that up to 900 flight attendant jobs will be eliminated beginning Aug. 31, and have filed notices to cut several hundred jobs at airports around the country.
The pilots' union had hoped to avoid any furloughs, noting that the airline recalled about 25 pilots in June.
"They have the opportunity to properly man the airline instead of undermanning it," said union spokesman Karl Schricker. "We think (the job reductions) should be zero."
American, a unit of Fort Worth-based AMR Corp., had no immediate comment.
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