United Airways is laying people off at Richmond International Airport. Photo by Katie Demeria.
A national airline is laying off a batch of its Richmond employees.
Chicago-based United Airlines will cut 64 employees at Richmond International Airport effective May 17. Luke Punzenberger, a United spokesman, said the layoffs are part of the company’s efforts to cut costs that has affected about 1,150 workers.
“These were difficult decisions but we need to ensure our costs are competitive,” Punzenberger said.
He said United is not leaving RIC and is replacing the laid-off workers with contractors. Punzenberger could not say the name of the company United has contracted with and did not say how many employees United still has in Richmond. He said laid-off workers are given opportunities to transfer to other airports.
A Reuters report from January said United was considering outsourcing jobs, including baggage handlers, gate agents and customer service workers at 28 airports in an effort to cut $2 billion in costs annually.
RIC spokesperson Troy Bell said United has 13 daily departures to four different destinations scheduled in March. American, Delta, Jet Blue, Southwest and U.S. Airways also fly out of RIC.
United Airways is laying people off at Richmond International Airport. Photo by Katie Demeria.
A national airline is laying off a batch of its Richmond employees.
Chicago-based United Airlines will cut 64 employees at Richmond International Airport effective May 17. Luke Punzenberger, a United spokesman, said the layoffs are part of the company’s efforts to cut costs that has affected about 1,150 workers.
“These were difficult decisions but we need to ensure our costs are competitive,” Punzenberger said.
He said United is not leaving RIC and is replacing the laid-off workers with contractors. Punzenberger could not say the name of the company United has contracted with and did not say how many employees United still has in Richmond. He said laid-off workers are given opportunities to transfer to other airports.
A Reuters report from January said United was considering outsourcing jobs, including baggage handlers, gate agents and customer service workers at 28 airports in an effort to cut $2 billion in costs annually.
RIC spokesperson Troy Bell said United has 13 daily departures to four different destinations scheduled in March. American, Delta, Jet Blue, Southwest and U.S. Airways also fly out of RIC.