Delta announces up to 13,000 job cuts, capacity reduced by 15 percent

<br>ATLANTA (AP) _ Delta Air Lines said Wednesday that it will cut up to 13,000 jobs, or 15 percent of its work force, because of declining air travel following the terrorist attacks two weeks ago. <br><br>Delta

Wednesday, September 26th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

ATLANTA (AP) _ Delta Air Lines said Wednesday that it will cut up to 13,000 jobs, or 15 percent of its work force, because of declining air travel following the terrorist attacks two weeks ago.

Delta also said it was trimming capacity by 15 percent. It was the last of the six major carriers forced to make cuts in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks. Overall, U.S. airlines plan to trim more than 92,000 jobs and Boeing Co. up to 30,000 more by the end of next year.

Delta spokesman Tom Donahue said the airline has lost about $1 billion since the attacks. The company will get about $600 million from the $5 billion cash relief approved by Congress last week, he said.

``The direct aid granted by the government helps Delta meet its immediate financial obligations, but with passenger demand forecast to remain depressed for at least a year, the need to reduce costs remains a financial imperative,'' Donahue said.

Delta said a significant number of jobs will be eliminated through voluntary programs.

Delta, the largest employer in the Atlanta area with 32,000 workers, has large work forces at its other hubs _ Cincinnati, Dallas-Fort Worth and Salt Lake City. The airline also has extensive operations in Orlando, Fla., New York and Los Angeles.

Other U.S. airlines have announced about 80,000 job cuts since the attacks on New York and Washington, including American, United, Northwest, Continental and US Airways.

Dallas-based Southwest Airlines remains the only major airline that has not announced job reductions.