US Airways trims Pittsburgh service

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PITTSBURGH, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- US Airways Group Inc. will end Pittsburgh service to six cities -- including Chicago and Denver -- as it cuts flights to 68 a day from 108, the airline said.

As part of the pullback, the Tempe, Ariz., airline said Wednesday it also would close its Pittsburgh crew base and transfer 100 mainline workers and 350 regional-carrier employees to other cities.

Customer-service agents and bag handlers for mainline flights will take over duties of the 350 US Airways Express workers, employed by US Airways subsidiary PSA Airlines Inc. of Vandalia, Ohio.

Other cut cities are Toronto; Erie, Pa.; Charleston, W.Va.; and Norfolk, Va., the airline said.

All service cutbacks are effective Jan. 6, except for Charleston, which is being cut Nov. 3, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported.

"Unfortunately, our ability to operate profitably from Pittsburgh has been sharply eroded over the past few years, and the hub lost more than $40 million over the past 12 months alone," Chief Executive Officer Doug Parker said.