Southwest Airlines closing 2 crew bases in cost-cutting push

Southwest Airlines is closing two flight attendant bases amid its cost-cutting push that has additionally led to its first mass layoffs in its greater than 50 years of flying.

The airline is closing the satellite tv for pc bases at Florida’s Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Worldwide Airport and at Texas’ Austin-Bergstrom Worldwide Airport, in response to a flight attendant union memo.

“Whereas the Firm is inside its rights to make this choice, it’s not with out affect on Flight Attendants,” stated TWU Native 556 President Invoice Bernal.

He stated the union and firm agreed to maneuver the closure again one month, making it efficient on July 1.

“This enables affected Members extra time to make preparations for this modification in their skilled and private lives,” Bernal stated.

The airports are so-called satellite tv for pc bases for flight attendants, not pilots, and smaller than its foremost bases.

A Southwest spokesman stated the provider opened the bases in early 2018 and that the 280 flight attendants who can be affected can switch to the 12 foremost bases.

“This modification will finally assist strengthen our Crew community and assist a extra dependable operation for our Workers and Clients,” the airline stated in a press release.

The Dallas-based provider has been slashing unprofitable routes, affecting lots of of front-line staff, together with in Atlanta. Final month, the airline stated it was will minimize 15% of company employees, or 1,750 individuals, that might reserve it about $210 million this 12 months.

The strikes come after the airline settled final 12 months with activist investor Elliott Funding Administration, which received 5 Southwest board seats, in need of management. The agency had additionally pushed for Bob Jordan to get replaced as CEO, although it was not profitable.