American, ASA Employees Will Soon Need New Jobs

More signs of tough times for the airline industry... as about 250 workers at two carriers will be forced to look for new jobs soon.

Delta regional operator Atlantic Southeast Airlines plans to furlough 80 of its pilots next month, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Those job actions, which will go into effect February 8, are due to capacity cutbacks throughout Delta's network.

"The decision to furlough is a direct result of our economy that's driving down demand," said ASA spokeswoman Kate Modolo.

ASA will also offer voluntary retirements and leaves across the board, though pilots are the only workers subject to outright furlough at this time.

David Nieuwnehuis, chairman of the ASA chapter of the Air Line Pilots Association, expects the furloughs to last at least a year. The union will attempt to find jobs at other airlines for the affected pilots, he added.

In related news, some 170 maintenance techs at American Airlines' primary overhaul base at Kansas City International Airport (KCI) will be laid off January 16, as part of American's plan to slash some 1,500 jobs nationwide.

The Liberty (MO) Tribune reports it could have been much worse, as American originally planned to fire 600 workers at KCI. Voluntary layoffs held staunch the bleeding, as did the recent addition of two new maintenance lines.

FMI: www.flyasa.com, www.aa.com