American Airlines to cut 13,000 jobs
American Airlines is to cut 13,000 jobs, which equates to around 15% of its workforce.
Its parent AMR, which filed for bankruptcy in November, said it needs to cut staff costs by 20%.
It claims this would reduce spending by $2bn (£1.26) and raise revenue by $1bn a year.
AMR also plans to restructure debt and aircraft leases, ground older aircraft, and change workforce contracts, health benefits and pensions.
It hopes to start negotiations with unions shortly.
In a letter to employees, chief executive Thomas W Horton said: "We are going to use the restructuring process to make the necessary changes to meet our challenges head-on and capitalise fully on the solid foundation we’ve put in place."
Unions said the proposals were worse than feared and they would fiercely fight the plans.
by Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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