Alaska Airlines planning to cut capacity, slash jobs

SEATTLE — Alaska Airlines said Friday that it would cut capacity by 8% this winter and slash as many as 1,000 jobs amid high fuel costs and a weak economy.

The job cuts represent about 9% to 10% of the airline’s 10,000 employees. The positions on the chopping block include pilots, flight attendants and aircraft technicians, as well as reservation, customer service and ramp agents.

The carrier, a unit of Seattle-based Alaska Air Group Inc., says the capacity reductions will start Nov. 9 and continue throughout next year.

Alaska Airlines plans to cancel low-demand flights on Saturdays and holidays, reduce flights on major routes by about one round trip per day and end seasonal service on three Mexico routes. The capacity cuts will reduce the airline’s flights by about 15%.

Alaska Airlines said the moves were needed because of “the one-two punch of record oil prices and a softening economy, on top of increased competition.”