Once Kansas City's Largest Employer

The commercial aircraft maintenance facility in near Kansas City, MO, in Platte county was once the largest such operation in the world, employing some 6,000 people when it was owned by TWA. On Friday, its most recent owner, American Airlines, announced it is ending operations the facility, and dispersing the about half of the remaining 450 employees to other plants. 200 will take an early retirement buy-out package.

Television station KWCH reports that American is shifting about 85 workers to a new overhaul facility it is opening in Dallas-Fort Worth. The remainder will be assigned to positions in St, Louis, MO, and Tulsa, OK.

American Airlines spokesperson Mary Frances Fagen told the station that reason is simple economics. American is flying about 400 fewer airplanes now than in the recent past, and there is just not the need for the Platte county facility. She said the airline worked hard to find places for as many of the workers as it could.

The building won't sit vacant, however. Jet Midwest has signed an agreement to move into the repair facility as American pulls out. Frontier Airlines also has maintenance work done at the plant.

FMI: www.aa.com