Troubled Times for US Airways: More Cutbacks Ahead

US Airways announced series of cutbacks today as it faces stiff competition and dwindling demand during this troubled time in the airline industry:

-Cutback of 1,000 employees (~600 airport, ~200 pilot, and ~150 FA)

-Abandoning Las Vegas as a focus city by cutting down flights by 50% (again) in Feb 2010

-Closing Colorado Springs and Wichita stations

-Suspending service from Philadelphia to Birmingham (UK), London Gatwick, Milan, Shannon, and Stockholm (mitigated slightly by the announcement that PHL to Brussels and Zürich service will become year-round)

-Shelving plans for a PHL to Beijing route

-Closing crew bases in Boston, LaGuardia, and Las Vegas

By the end of next year, 99% of flights will be going to or coming from PHL, Charlotte, Phoenix, and Washington National (compared to 93% right now).

In the same memo announcing these cutbacks, US affirmed plans to move forward with installing lie-flat Business Class seats on all its A330s starting next month. It will be interesting to see if they actually follow through with this.

Though I don’t have a great affinity for US Airways, I always hate to see cutbacks because it makes me fear that United will be next. Plus, I often connected in Las Vegas from Burbank, Los Angeles, or Orange County for redeyes to Washington National or PHL. We’ll see if those options disappear–US has already cut the Burbank-Vegas route.

I was chatting with the agents during my last visit to the US Club in Las Vegas (that’s already closed) and they lamented how the all-night service to Vegas had dwindled down so much the last year and a half. I wonder what they are thinking today? Hopefully these will be the last of US’ cutbacks.

All the details here.