Just before the world's largest airline announced that it had reached an agreement with creditors and lease-holders, to save $175 million a year, it let folks know that the crisis isn't over, yet.

The APFA announced the layoffs Wednesday. John Ward, the union's president, commented that Wednesday's "...announcement by American is indeed very sad for all of us at the APFA. The news that so many of our coworkers will now face unemployment is another in a long line of very disheartening events of late."

American is under contract to lop off 2400 FAs; the larger-than-mandated cuts, though, considering the global doldrums surrounding premium airlines, were not-unexpected. When a 5000-head reduction was announced in April, the company said it hoped a large number would be satisfied through voluntary layoffs. 1545 volunteered; 3123 will get the boot.

Layoffs are chosen by seniority; about 1000 of the layoffs are to be among former TWA flight attendants. The cutoff date, this time, was April 6, 2000. Most TWA FAs have a seniority date of April, 2001.

Since September 11, 2001, and by July of this year, American will have furloughed over 6000 flight attendants; 1200 ground workers; and 2200 pilots, while losing around $6 billion.

FMI: www.amrcorp.com