United to keep Vegas flight attendant base

Jennifer Shubinski

Wednesday, June 25, 2003 | 11:25 a.m.

United Airlines has reversed its decision to close a Las Vegas flight-attendant base after employees appealed to lawmakers for help, a lawmaker and the airline said today.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said today that the Elk Grove Township, Ill.-based airline reached an agreement with its flight attendants that would allow the Las Vegas base to remain open.

"This is great news," Reid said. "To lose all of these jobs, at a time when the economy is already so bad, would have been devastating."

United Airlines confirmed its decision to keep the Las Vegas base open.

"We reached an agreement that simultaneously allows flight attendants to continue to be based out of Las Vegas, while containing costs for the company," said Jason Schechter, a spokesman for the airline.

Schechter said the agreement extends to its Philadelphia flight-attendant base as well, which United had announced it would shut down along with the Las Vegas base.

Earlier this month United announced it would shut down the Las Vegas base, forcing flight attendants who live in the area to relocate, face standby-flight commutes or leave the company. The company said that 222 people would be affected; flight attendants said the number is closer to 280.

Flight attendants contacted Reid after the announcement, who then sent a letter to United Chairman Glenn Tilton expressing concern that he wasn't informed of the decision by the airline and reminded Tilton of his influence on aviation-related matters before the Senate. Reid said he encouraged the airline to work with the flight attendants to reach a solution.

United, operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protections, said the move to close the base was a cost-cutting measure. The company gave local employees a three-month notice of its intent to close the base earlier this month, and said the action would be effective Aug. 31.

As part of the agreement to keep the Las Vegas base open, cost-cutting methods will be introduced to support flight attendants, mainly through electronic communication, Reid's office said.

"United Airlines and the flight attendants should be commended for working together to keep the base open," Reid said. "A robust airline industry is essential to the health of the U.S. economy and especially Nevada, whose primary industry is tourism."