US carrier United Airlines has said 950 - about 14% - of its pilots will lose their jobs as spiralling fuel costs and weak consumer spending hit earnings.

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Staff numbers must be scaled back as United Airlines reduces the number of services it offers, the firm said.

Since oil prices passed $135 a barrel, jet fuel costs have sent the whole airline industry reeling.

Many airlines have made a series of radical moves to survive, including charging passengers to check in their first piece of luggage and raising the price of air fare tickets.

A number have already collapsed, including UK airline Silverjet and budget carrier Oasis Hong Kong.

Earlier this month, United it said it would ground 100 planes, leading to a 17%-18% cut in domestic capacity and a 4-5% reduction in international capacity.

"As we take actions to enable United to compete in an environment of record fuel prices, we must take the difficult but necessary step to reduce the number of people we have to run our business," the Chicago-based carrier said in a statement.

(BBC)

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