Anchorage Daily News

Alaska Airlines' recent decision to cut its flights by as much as 10 percent in the coming year -- likely reducing the number to and from Alaska -- could put up to 165 pilots out of work, the company said this week.

Alaska hasn't finalized which and how many flights it will cut here or in other states. A decision is expected by mid- or late September, said Marianne Lindsey, a company spokeswoman.

An average of 44 Alaska Airlines flights leave Anchorage each day. About 200 of the airline's 1,500 pilots are based in the city, according to company officials.

Lindsey said the cutting of 165 pilot jobs is a worst-case scenario, and the airline and the union are trying to reduce that number.

The company announced in July that its mounting financial losses would lead to layoffs of about 80 managers, an unspecified number of operational job layoffs, flight reductions of 5 percent by the end of the fiscal year, and an additional 5 percent flight reduction by the end of 2009.

"From the union's perspective, we're very concerned about this," said David Campbell, a Seattle-based communications coordinator for the Air Line Pilots Association.

The pilots' contract with Alaska doesn't allow a traditional layoff. Instead, the airline puts pilots on furlough, giving them the chance to return to work later if the company's financial position improves.

In lieu of furloughs, the union and the airline said they are developing a plan that will offer pilots incentives to take early retirement, go on extended leaves of absence, or reduce their flying hours.

Depending on how many people sign up for those options, the union is optimistic that the airline might not have to furlough many pilots, Campbell said.

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