US Air to cut 1,000 jobs, reduce routes
Struggling airline announce restructuring plan to become profitable again.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- US Airways will cut 1,000 jobs and scale back its flying routes as part of a restructuring plan to turn the struggling airline profitable again, the company announced Wednesday.
The cutbacks that will happen in the first half of 2010 include 200 pilots, 150 flight attendants and 600 airport passenger and service ramp positions, US Air said in a statement.
The Tempe, Ariz.-based airline will refocus its routes to fly through its three major hubs -- Charlotte, N.C., Philadelphia and Phoenix, Ariz. -- and Washington, D.C., through which the airline runs an hourly shuttle service to New York's LaGuardia Airport and Boston.
The change will reduce flights from Las Vegas to 36 daily departures by February next year from its current 64 flights.
The crew bases in Boston, LaGuardia and Las Vegas will also close in 2010 and relocate to one of the hubs or Washington.
US Air (LCC, Fortune 500) will drop service in Colorado Springs, Colo., and Wichita, Kan., and will also cut international flights.
The carrier will suspend flights between its Philadelphia hub and European cities including Birmingham, England; London Gatwick; Milan, Italy; Shannon, Ireland, and Stockholm, Sweden. Flights between Philadelphia and Beijing are also on hold "until economic conditions improve," the airline said.
The completed restructuring will increase the flying US Air does through its hubs and Washington to 99% from 93%.
Shares of US Air were up nearly 2% in midday trading. 
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