Airlines target about 650 jobs at O'Hare

United and American Airlines, both aiming to trim their workforces in the wake of escalating jet fuel and other costs, targeted 654 jobs to be eliminated at their operations at O'Hare International Airport.

American cited 336 jobs at risk for layoffs by Aug. 31 and United targeted 318 layoffs, which already started around July 1, according to documents posted Wednesday by the state of Illinois.

While the affected jobs were part of previous announcements, this is the first time the airlines cited O'Hare as one of the locations involved in their companywide reductions.

"This doesn't mean that all of those people would be laid off," said American spokeswoman Mary Frances Fagan. "We've had a reduction in flights and are expecting to reduce our head count in September, but some positions may change."

United, which announced last month it would eliminate about 7,000 jobs, said the affected workers at O'Hare include management as well as union-represented workers. The affected group does not involve pilots and flights attendants at this time, said United spokeswoman Megan McCarthy.

The airline industry has been under pressure with rising jet fuel and other costs and many companies have announced reductions in routes, which dominoes onto the number of pilots, flight attendants, ground workers, front line and others needed.

In addition, Indianapolis-based Republic Airways Holdings, parent of Republic Airways, Chautauqua Airlines and Shuttle America, filed a report with the state of Illinois that layoffs are expected around Sept. 10 at O'Hare but did not indicate the number of affected workers.

Republic announced July 11 it would eliminate about 500 workers companywide. A spokesman was unavailable.