Decision on American Airlines' maintenance bases not expected until Fall

American Airlines is reporting a hefty second quarter loss Wednesday. What does that mean for the American Airlines workforce in Tulsa? <br><br>News on 6 business reporter Steve Berg says American is

Wednesday, July 16th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

American Airlines is reporting a hefty second quarter loss Wednesday. What does that mean for the American Airlines workforce in Tulsa?

News on 6 business reporter Steve Berg says American is reporting a lost of $357-million in the second quarter of this year. That's down from the $495-million they lost during the same period last year. And way down from the $1-billion loss in the first quarter of this year.

But the company is clearly still hurting. American announced Wednesday morning that it will close its St. Louis reservation call center in September. And that it will cut back on flights in and out of its St. Louis hub. The moves could affect some 2,000 jobs there.

There has also been widespread guessing that American will close one of its three maintenance bases in Fort Worth, Tulsa, and Kansas City. But American is apparently going to hold off on that announcement for now, saying they will make a decision by the fall. Kansas City is considered by many to be the likeliest candidate for closing, because itâ€™s older and smaller than the other two and because it was inherited from TWA when American bought out that company.

A recent letter from the national leader of Transport Workers Union also suggests that Kansas City is a likely target. In the letter, he urges American Airlines not to close the Kansas City base, but does not mention Tulsa or Fort Worth.