United Airlines

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United Airlines said Monday that it is cutting 1,250 more jobs, or 1.5 percent of its work force, and closing three reservation centers as part of cost-cutting efforts aimed at saving the troubled carrier about $100 million annually. More cutbacks are expected later this week by United as it joins other airlines in trimming back this fall to try to fight declining air traffic and mounting losses. The announcement came three days after United, which is restructuring in an effort to stay out of bankruptcy, announced an $889 million third-quarter loss and said its operations have been losing about $7 million a day. The Elk Grove Village, Ill.-based airline also said it will close a maintenance line and convert five cities to United Express service. The moves came as United prepares to file an updated business plan with the federal government this week, hoping to strengthen its application for further financial assistance by detailing cost cuts and showing progress from weeks of concession talks with unions and lenders.

United Airlines plans to drop one of two full-size jets serving Burlington International Airport early next year. The move continues a trend by financially troubled major airlines to replace large planes with 50-passenger jets in smaller markets like Burlington. When United makes the switch, Burlington will be served by just three full-size jets. ... United flies two flights a day from Burlington to Chicago using full-size jet liners. Starting Feb. 13, United plans to jettison one of the big jets. United will increase the number of flights a day and use smaller 50-seat jets. The morning flight to Chicago will still be on a full-size jet, a Boeing 737 with 114 seats. The other two departures will be on 50-passenger United Express regional jets, Hopkins said. On the current schedule, United offers departures to Chicago at 7:25 a.m. and 5:12 p.m. Feb. 13, departures will be at 8 a.m., 12:45 p.m. and 5 p.m., Hopkins said. United is facing having to file for bankruptcy court protection from its heavy debts

United Airlines' CEO, headed into a weekend meeting with the company's board of directors, warned employees Friday that a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing by the nation's No. 2 airline is more likely than ever. Shares in parent UAL Corp. fell 7 cents to close at 93 cents a share on the New York Stock Exchange Friday -- the second day of a selloff following the rejection of its request for a $1.8 billion loan guarantee. The decision left the airline with few options as it faces a debt payment of nearly $1 billion due next week. ... Pilot union leaders held their second day of meetings Friday and talked again with United managers, but refused to say whether they had discussed a possible attempt to avert bankruptcy. United spokesman Rich Nelson confirmed Friday that the UAL board plans to meet today, but declined comment on the airline's financial status or plans. Sources familiar with the process, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said United was preparing to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Sunday.

Independence Air is brand new—and 14 years old—at the same time. We flew our first passengers in 1989, as the Dulles-based partner to United Airlines and, starting in 2000, for Delta Air Lines as well. We operated under the name Atlantic Coast Airlines (ACA). In December 2002, United went into bankruptcy and tried to force us to change the way we had done business in the past, by offering all of its partners a significantly inferior contract. Some accepted the risks of continuing with a bankrupt major airline. But we had a better plan. For many years we had been kicking around the idea of some day declaring our independence and starting our own low-fare airline--to try to "right the wrongs" we had seen in our industry for so long. An airline that people would really love to fly. The more we talked about it, the more we realized that going out on our own was the smartest thing to do.