2008 Woodie Awards
American Airlines to close Cincy customer center
Erin Bowen
Issue date: 1/25/08 Section: Community
American Airlines announced recently that it would close its Cincinnati-based customer reservation center this August, according to paperwork filed with the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services (ODJFS).
In a letter to the state of Ohio, Kevin E. Cox, American Airlines Inc. vice president for state and community affairs wrote, "After much thought and consideration, the decision has been made to close the central reservations office which occupies several floors of the Bartlett Building."
According to Cox, the decision to close, which was announced Jan. 17, was prompted by a desire to reduce costs and consolidate workload among other offices.
The American Airlines Reservation Center currently occupies space in the downtown Cincinnati Bartlett Building. The Cincinnati Enquirer reported Jan. 8 that the American Airlines Reservation Center handled 4.7 million calls last year, approximately 10 percent of the company's total calls and accounted for about $19 million in payroll.
According to Cox, 477 people are employed at the Cincinnati office. In the letter, Cox could not specify if all 477 will lose their jobs. Cox said employees would be offered alternative options, such as relocation or working from home, beginning in February.
Cox's letter set the layoff date for mid-August.
"The closure is effective on Aug. 15, 2008," Cox wrote.
According to the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification ACT (WARN), employers such as American Airlines must give employees at least 60 days of notice before the layoff date when more than 50 people lose their jobs within 30 days.
Amy Andre, community relations representative for the Cincinnati Northern Kentucky Airport, said that Americans Airlines averaged 14 daily flights a day in December 2007.
"That number may be a little inflated due to the holiday season," Andre said. "But American Airlines does have a strong presence here at CVG."
Miami University student Hayley Cook frequently flies home to Connecticut and said she prefers to fly American Airlines.
"If the Cincinnati airport drops the amount of American Airlines flights, I might have to start flying another airline when I go home," Cook said. "I live 12 hours away and it would be such a hassle to start driving home just because of this closing, but I'm sure there are other airlines that I can start to fly that are no more expensive than AA."
When asked whether or not the loss of the American Airlines office will have an effect on the amount of planes out of the area, Andre did not anticipate an effect.
"I doubt the closing will affect the airport," Andre said.
Cook was reassured that she will continue to be able to fly home in convenience.
"I'm not afraid that flying home will be less convenient because I know a few people from my hometown who also go to Miami that don't fly American Airlines from Cincinnati," Cook said. "They have no complaints, so I don't think switching airlines will make my travels more inconvenient."
In a letter to the state of Ohio, Kevin E. Cox, American Airlines Inc. vice president for state and community affairs wrote, "After much thought and consideration, the decision has been made to close the central reservations office which occupies several floors of the Bartlett Building."
According to Cox, the decision to close, which was announced Jan. 17, was prompted by a desire to reduce costs and consolidate workload among other offices.
The American Airlines Reservation Center currently occupies space in the downtown Cincinnati Bartlett Building. The Cincinnati Enquirer reported Jan. 8 that the American Airlines Reservation Center handled 4.7 million calls last year, approximately 10 percent of the company's total calls and accounted for about $19 million in payroll.
According to Cox, 477 people are employed at the Cincinnati office. In the letter, Cox could not specify if all 477 will lose their jobs. Cox said employees would be offered alternative options, such as relocation or working from home, beginning in February.
Cox's letter set the layoff date for mid-August.
"The closure is effective on Aug. 15, 2008," Cox wrote.
According to the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification ACT (WARN), employers such as American Airlines must give employees at least 60 days of notice before the layoff date when more than 50 people lose their jobs within 30 days.
Amy Andre, community relations representative for the Cincinnati Northern Kentucky Airport, said that Americans Airlines averaged 14 daily flights a day in December 2007.
"That number may be a little inflated due to the holiday season," Andre said. "But American Airlines does have a strong presence here at CVG."
Miami University student Hayley Cook frequently flies home to Connecticut and said she prefers to fly American Airlines.
"If the Cincinnati airport drops the amount of American Airlines flights, I might have to start flying another airline when I go home," Cook said. "I live 12 hours away and it would be such a hassle to start driving home just because of this closing, but I'm sure there are other airlines that I can start to fly that are no more expensive than AA."
When asked whether or not the loss of the American Airlines office will have an effect on the amount of planes out of the area, Andre did not anticipate an effect.
"I doubt the closing will affect the airport," Andre said.
Cook was reassured that she will continue to be able to fly home in convenience.
"I'm not afraid that flying home will be less convenient because I know a few people from my hometown who also go to Miami that don't fly American Airlines from Cincinnati," Cook said. "They have no complaints, so I don't think switching airlines will make my travels more inconvenient."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
nicole
posted 2/26/08 @ 4:11 PM EST
The flights from cvg and the office closure are not inter-related. So the narrative on the flights is irrelevant and pointless
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