Alaska Airlines cuts jobs and closes maintenance facility

Airline Industry Information, Sept 10, 2004

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Alaska Airlines is set to cut 900 jobs from its 11,000-strong workforce and has also closed its Oakland, California maintenance site as it attempts to save USD35m annually.

The airline is attempting to cut costs so it can compete against low-cost airlines. The job cuts will be the airline's first major layoffs since 2001 and will see 150 management positions and 750 other positions cut.

Alaska Airlines closed its Oakland maintenance site on 9 September 2004 with the loss of 350 jobs and said that all of its maintenance will now be done at Goodrich Aviation Technical Services in Everett, Washington and AAR Aircraft Services in Oklahoma City.

A spokesperson for Alaska Airlines said that the demand for cheap tickets, competition from low-cost airlines and the high price of fuel were behind the measures, reports The Associated Press.

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