United Airlines is axing 60% of flights from its Cleveland airport hub from April with the loss of up to 470 jobs.
In a letter to airline staff, CEO Jeff Smisek said the hub "had generated tens of millions of dollars of annual losses in recent years" and will reduce daily flights at the airport from a current 199 to 72.
Late last year the carrier announced it would aim to cut $2 billion in annual operating costs through flight consolidation, increased staff productivity and streamlining maintenance operations.
Cleveland had been a hub for Continental Airlines prior to the United-Continental merger in 2010, and its downgrade from hub status was expected due to United’s much larger Midwestern hub in nearby Chicago.
In an open letter posted on the United website, customers affected by the schedule changes will be notified of proposed new itineraries by the airline.
The carrier added that it remains committed to serving 20 key destinations non-stop from Cleveland such as New York, Boston, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando.
