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