United to Cut 100 Planes From Fleet

Updated from 12:27 p.m. EDT

Responding to the rapid escalation in fuel costs, United Airlines says it will reduce its fleet by 100 aircraft, taking out 17% to 18% of its mainline domestic capacity by 2009, and eliminate several thousand jobs.

The move puts United, a unit of UAL (UAUA Quote), in the forefront of the capacity-cutting efforts by U.S. carriers who are trying to cope with high oil prices by paring the oldest, least fuel-efficient aircraft from their fleets.

"This environment demands that we and the industry act decisively and responsibly," said CEO Glenn Tilton in a prepared statement. ...