Thursday, July 31, 2008

Airlines Are Increasing Fees on Baggage, Cutting Down Jobs and Laying Off Workers

Cash-strapped Airlines Are Increasing Fees, Laying Off Pilots, Workers and Cutting Hundreds of Flights at Most Airports

From FYI to LAX, San Francisco International Aiport, San Jose airport and elsewhere, the high fuel prices bring bad news to the CEOs of most airlines companies. At the same time, travelers without extra cash are being asked to pay higher fees on local and international flights for extra luggage. Many airlines have resulted to cutting down a number of flights at the local airports. The cuts announced thus far will be felt at the Los Angeles International Airport. According to Airline industry database company Innovata, the number of flights scheduled out of LAX has been reduced.

In front of the new economic reality, American Airlines and other companies are cutting down flights. American Airlines plans to eliminate 86 arrivals and departures at the LAX per week in November. Delta plans to eliminate 68. United Airlines plans to cut the flights down to 266 flights. LAX can no longer count on the landing fees to fund its expansion. The cuts will be felt down at the local regional airports too.