US Airways Cutting 1,000 Jobs, Shifting Flying

JOSHUA FREED

Struggling US Airways said Wednesday it will cut some 1,000 jobs next year, shift nearly all of its flying to its three hubs and Washington, and suspend several international routes.

The retrenching is aimed at putting its airplanes where the money is — its hubs at Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Charlotte, N.C., as well as Washington. US Airways said flying from its hubs has been profitable.

Once the changes are made early next year, 99 percent of its flying will be to or from those cities, up from 93 percent now. It's also keeping its US Airways Shuttle between Boston, New York, and Washington, although some of the Boston flying is shifting to its smaller Embraer 190 jets.

US Airways has said its domestic flying will drop slightly next year, while international flying will rise a little.

The changes announced Wednesday include dropping Colorado Springs, Colo., which it said is too close to Denver to be profitable. It is also trimming Las Vegas flights from 64 departures per day to 36.