DALLAS — American Airlines is cutting 200 pilot jobs as it sheds 8 percent of its workforce to cope with higher costs for jet fuel.
American, the nation’s largest airline, gave its pilots union a plan Tuesday that includes incentives for senior pilots to leave voluntarily.
A spokesman for the Allied Pilots Association said the union needed time to review the proposal. American has about 8,500 pilots.
The pilots union had hoped to avoid any job cuts, noting that the airline recalled about 25 pilots in June. But at a contract-bargaining session Tues day, executives notified union representatives of the reductions.
“They have the opportunity to properly man the airline instead of undermanning it,” union spokesman Karl Schricker said. “We think (the job reductions) should be zero.”
American spokesman Tim Wagner said, “Any pilot reductions are regrettable, but the current economic environment is forcing us to make adjustments throughout the company.”
Executives told employees two weeks ago that they planned to eliminate 8 percent of the workforce at American and sister carrier American Eagle, or about 6,800 jobs, when the airline reduces flights after the peak summer travel season.
They have indicated that up to 900 flight-attendant jobs will be eliminated beginning Aug. 31 and have filed notices to cut several hundred jobs at airports around the country.
