United Airlines makes more job cuts

CHICAGO, June 4 (UPI) -- United Airlines announced Wednesday it would trim its workforce by 1,100 employees and eliminate its low-fare airline, Ted.

The airline also said it would retire 100 older planes, including all 94 of its medium-range Boeing 737s, The New York Times reported.

After the move, the age of United's remaining fleet would decline from an average of 13 years to 11.8 years.

The airline is reacting to jet fuel costs, up 82 percent above last year, and to a company loss of $537 million in the first quarter.

United said it would abandon its low-cost airline, called Ted, an attempt to operate an "airline within an airline," the report said.

The moves, added to an earlier announcement of 500 job cuts, "enable us to compete more effectively -and ultimately more profitably -- in this environment," said Chief Executive Officer Glenn F. Tilton.