Cuts start at big Vegas carrier

Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2001 | 9:25 a.m.

TEMPE, Ariz. -- America West pilots were among the first to get their pink slips as the company began fulfilling its promise to lay off 2,000 workers.

The company announced the layoffs and a reduced schedule shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

The airline notified 115 pilots on Friday and the number of furloughed pilots could climb to 200, company spokesman Jim Sabourin said Monday.

"When you reduce your flight schedule by 20 percent and you have fewer aircraft flying, it goes without saying you don't need the same number of flight crews," he said.

The airline proposed pilots reduce their pay and flying hours by 8 percent each, but the pilot's union didn't agree to the deal, Sabourin said.

America West is the No. 2 carrier at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas.

archive