American Air’s officer ranks to shrink 30% with voluntary exits

American Airlines will reduce its officer ranks by 30% as the carrier slims down operations in the wake of reduced travel demand because of the coronavirus. Fourteen of the company’s officers will be leaving voluntarily, including veteran revenue management and customer experience leaders, and five other positions will remain vacant, CEO Doug Parker said in a memo to employees Thursday. The shake-up is the first phase of changes under which 30% of management and support staff will be cut at American. “There is no question this is a time of unprecedented change,” President Robert Isom said in a separate memo. The management changes and “the reality of becoming a smaller airline on the backside of this pandemic will change the way we do business.” The changes add to the nearly 109,000 employees at the four largest US airlines that already have opted to take voluntary leaves or retire early. Carriers are hoping the volunteers will help avoid or reduce widespread furloughs on Oct. 1, when a prohibition on job cuts tied to federal aid expires.<br/>