Southwest makes huge hub change amid massive layoffs
The airline is closing bases in two major cities.
Transcript:
Loren Torres: On the heels of its first mass-layoff in company history, Southwest Airlines has announced another cost-cutting measure. Southwest says it plans to shut down two flight attendant bases - one in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the other in Austin, Texas.
However the 280 flight attendants based at those hubs will not let go. Instead, Southwest says they can transfer to one of the company’s 12 other bases. The bases in Florida and Texas will close July 1, allowing the staff there to make arrangements for relocation.
Related: Southwest Airlines makes drastic cost-cutting decision
Of the move, the airline released a statement saying “This change will ultimately help strengthen our Crew network and support a more reliable operation for our Employees and Customers.”
Southwest has been slashing unprofitable routes which has affected hundreds of employees stationed in those cities. But it also announced last month that it’s laying off 15% of all corporate staff - about 1,750 people. The company says the cuts will save roughly $500 million over the next two years.
That’ll do it for your daily briefing. From New York City, I’m Loren Torres with TheStreet.
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