The September 11th attack
Another airline warns of cuts

By Susan Hooper
Advertiser Staff Writer

Trans World Airlines has notified Hawai'i labor officials that it may be closing or reducing the size of its Honolulu operations in less than two weeks because of the effect of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on its business.

In a letter to officials in areas nationwide where TWA has operations, the airline said it did not know yet "exactly which of our locations will be involved or exactly how many employees at those locations may be affected."

TWA is the latest airline to take steps to cut back because of the drastic decline in air travel. United, American, Northwest and Aloha airlines all have been among carriers announcing furloughs and route cuts.

Hawaiian Airlines also announced route cuts; a reduction in work force is expected to be announced sometime this week. Two American Airlines ticket counters in Hawai'i, including the location in Ala Moana, will close as part of nationwide shifts by the carrier.

TWA has employees in 67 U.S. cities, according to the letter, which was received yesterday by the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. The airline said the layoffs or closings would occur within a 14-day period that began Monday.

Representatives at TWA headquarters in St. Louis did not return calls from The Advertiser yesterday.

A TWA employee in Honolulu said that the airline has 11 customer-service agents, a station manager and a secretary based in Honolulu, and that they have received no information about layoffs or whether the Honolulu operation is affected.

No TWA pilots or flight attendants are based in Honolulu, the employee said.

TWA operates one daily nonstop flight from St. Louis to Honolulu and one daily nonstop flight from St. Louis to Kahului, Maui.

TWA also operates a Saturday charter for the cruise-ship industry, flying from St. Louis to Honolulu with a stop in Los Angeles, the employee said.