US Airways to cut 600 airport positions

[July 15, 2009]  TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) -- US Airways says it will cut 600 ground jobs this fall because of the slow economy.

The airline says it will close its Las Vegas US Airways Club and reduce the staff at its club in Phoenix. It will also shift to outside contractors for ramp service work in nine stations, mostly those served by US Airways Express regional carriers.

The cuts were laid out in a memo to workers Tuesday from Chief Operating Officer Robert Isom.

He says the company had hoped the staff would shrink through retirements and departures for other jobs. But he says attrition has fallen sharply this year and the airline needs to shrink faster.

Airlines in the U.S. have been struggling with a sharp drop-off in business travel.

[Associated Press]

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