Catherwood LibraryILR School

AirTran Airways has announced that it will cut 480 jobs because of difficulties remaining competitive due to the high cost of fuel. The job cuts will affect pilots and flight attendants. The low-cost carrier will as such reduce five percent of its workforce. AirTran's announcement comes at a particularly troubling time for airlines around the globe, where rising costs of fuel have led to cuts and closures. Continental, United and American are all airlines who have had to cut routes and jobs because of fuel costs, while other companies like Skybus have folded completely. AirTran will offer the pilots and flight attendants early retirement packages.