American Airlines has announced that it is closing its flight attendant base at San Francisco International Airport, displacing over four hundred flight staff in the process.
While the carrier promised that every attendant who wished to be moved to another base would be, many of the staff have spent decades in the Bay area and would be forced to uproot their families, sell homes, or make other significant life changes. The nearest major base is LAX – the only airport American says staff cannot apply to move to, thanks to overstaffing. For those unable to move or unwilling to do so, retirement from the position is the only option.
According to American Airlines’ statement, the San Francisco base is simply not as active as it once was, and with the added burden of fuel costs, increased competition, and reduced demand, the base is no longer a profitable venture.
Those who decide to move on to another base will begin a bidding process after vacancies are analyzed. The LAX airport is unavailable as 200 previous employees are on the waiting list with priority of return privilege.
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