JAL to cut 170 jobs in Dec-2010

Japan Airlines Corp (JAL) confirmed plans to eliminate 1500 more jobs by Mar-2011, including 170 pilots and flight attendants during Dec-2010, as it reduces its workforce by 16,000 (or a third) under its rehabilitation plan to 32,600 by 31-Mar-2010 (Bloomberg, 29-Dec-2010). The cuts were "unavoidable", as the number of staff applying for its latest voluntary retirement programme reached 30 - well below its target of 200 (Sapa-AFP, 28-Dec-2010). ETIC, the organisation overseeing JAL's turnaround, stated the airline had eliminated 8000 positions by Sep-2010. JAL is retiring 103 aircraft and suspending 10 international and 39 domestic routes under its turnaround plan. The carrier had sold 33 B747 and MD-80 aircraft as 31-Aug-2010. Meanwhile, over 85 pilots and cabin attendants are reportedly planning to file lawsuits with the Tokyo District Court in mid-Jan-2011, to seek nullification of the carrier's decision to dismiss them as part of its rehabilitation efforts (Kyodo, 26-Dec-2010).