United to cut flights from Cleveland

[CLEVELAND] United Continental Holdings, the parent company of United Airlines, plans to lower the number of daily departures from its unprofitable Cleveland hub starting in April because of insufficient demand, according to a memo to employees.

Average daily departures will fall by around 60 per cent, leading to 36 per cent less capacity based on seats, chief executive Jeff Smisek said in the memo. "Our hub in Cleveland hasn't been profitable for over a decade, and has generated tens of millions of dollars of annual losses in recent years," Mr Smisek said.

The reduction could result in up to 430 airport operations staff and 40 catering personnel losing their jobs, Mr Smisek added. A pilot shortage accelerated the decision to reduce flights, he said.