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BUSINESS BRIEFING / AIRLINES

TIMES WIRE REPORTS

Continental Airlines Inc., pressured by a collapse in business travel and declining fares, asked as many as 700 flight attendants to accept leaves beginning Sept. 1.

Last month, the carrier increased to 6% from 5% its plan to trim flight capacity this year. Analysts expect that the Houston-based airline may announce additional reductions effective after Labor Day.

Continental, the fourth-biggest U.S. airline, has more capacity in international markets than other carriers and has been hurt by declines in high-fare business travel. The attrition rate among flight attendants also has slowed, it said.

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Continental is offering its 9,500 flight attendants leaves of five months or nine months.

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