Continental to lay off 600 more reservation agents The Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area - by Christine Hall Houston Business Journal
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Continental Airlines Inc. confirmed Monday that it will be laying off another 600 reservation agents as travelers continue to use the Internet more to book and manage their flights.
This is a second round of layoffs in less than a year among the Houston airline employees who help travelers make flight arrangements via telephone.
Last May, Continental (NYSE: CAL) cut 500 reservation agent positions and closed its Tampa, Fla., call center.
In this most recent round, the airline — one of seven carriers at Piedmont Triad International — cited a 15 percent decline in call volume due to traveler preference of booking and managing their own flights through its online presence at Continental.com.
Another factor in the decision to let go of the agents is the fact that Continental will not be renewing a contract with Burbank, Calif.-based Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS), according to Julie King, a Continental spokeswoman. That will affect about 100 of the 600 workers, she said.
Most of the affected agents are located in Houston, with some also in Salt Lake City, said King, who did not provide more specific numbers.
Continental has a total of 2,600 reservation agents working in the U.S., of which about 1,000 work from home, King said. After the cut on April 11, the company will have 2,000 agents.
Shares of Continental opened Monday at $20, trading as high as $20.44, near the company’s 52-week high of $21.58 per share.
According a report released Monday by the U.S. Department of Transportation, employment at Continental in 2009 was down by 3.9 percent versus 2008.
