American recalling laid-off LV workers

Thursday, Dec. 20, 2001 | 9:49 a.m.

SUN STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

The 104 American Airlines employees who were laid off at the Las Vegas reservations center in September are being called back to work.

Fort Worth, Texas-based American said Wednesday it has begun recalling about 800 laid-off reservations clerks to handle an increase in inquiries to its call centers. Laid-off workers will go back to their jobs in January.

The nation's largest airline said, however, that it doesn't expect to recall pilots, flight attendants or other workers who were laid off after Sept. 11.

American said the recalls of reservations clerks began Monday. It credited recent fare sales for prompting more calls to its reservations centers.

The carrier also said that reservations calls are taking longer because a larger percentage now come from vacationers instead of business travelers.

"We need to spend a little more time with infrequent travelers to ensure they're comfortable with their arrangements," said Lauri Curtis, an American vice president. She said the recalls were "a good initial sign."

The company said it would recall 799 workers, including 182 in Norfolk, Va.; 169 in Fort Worth; 121 at in Tucson, Ariz., and smaller numbers in Cincinnati, Ohio; Dallas; St. Louis; Cary, N.C., and Hartford, Conn.

In Las Vegas, there were about 400 employees before the layoffs at the company's office at the McCarran Center business park, open daily from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m.

The layoffs occurred in late September after travel demand fell following the terrorist attacks.

Following the attacks, American's parent, AMR Corp., said it would cut 20,000 jobs at American, commuter airline American Eagle and Trans World Airlines, which has since been folded into American. Fewer employees were needed because American cut its flight schedule by 20 percent.