UPDATE 2-American issues layoff notices, cuts flight schedule | Reuters

Answer 1

American Airlines, the third-largest US airline, has sent notices to over 11,000 of its employees warning them of possible job losses as part of the company's reorganization after filing for bankruptcy protection in November.

Federal law requires companies to warn workers if there's a chance they might be affected 60 days prior to major layoffs.

American Airlines said it expects about 4,400 of the notified employees to actually be laid off in November and December while about 800 employees already agreed to leave voluntarily.

The airline also said it would cut back on flights by 1% to 2% for the rest of September and October citing a high number of pilots taking sick days and an increase of maintenance complaints from flight crews.

American Airlines has cancelled more flights in recent days than any other major US airline.

A spokesman for the pilot union said pilots are not taking any more sick days than usual but noted that pilots are angry over newly imposed pay and working rules that cut compensation and benefits.

The pilot union is the only major labor group that has not agreed on contract concessions since the airline's bankruptcy filing and will be holding a strike authorization vote on October 3.