U.S. airlines could slash 70,000 jobs if Iraq war begins WASHINGTON (Reuters) =97 U.S. airlines could slash 70,000 jobs and lose up= to=20 $4 billion a quarter if there is war with Iraq and the government does not= =20 give the industry more help, the biggest domestic carriers said Tuesday.=20 The Air Transport Association, which represents major airlines, said in a=20 report on airline finances that its members would take aggressive steps to= =20 counter any sharp drop in travel demand and an increase in costs caused by= =20 an Iraqi war. Big airlines are seeking government assistance to stem rising= =20 fuel costs and ease taxes that are cutting into their bottom line and=20 contributing to losses that soared to a record $10 billion in 2002. In its= =20 report, the industry restated its belief the impact of war could prompt=20 more bankruptcies or force some financially fragile carriers into=20 liquidation. Recovery would take several years and ticket prices would fall= =20 further to spur demand, it said. *************************************************** The owner of Roger's Trinbago Site/TnTisland.com Roj (Roger James) escape email mailto:ejames@xxxxxxxxx Trinbago site: www.tntisland.com Carib Brass Ctn site www.tntisland.com/caribbeanbrassconnection/ Steel Expressions www.mts.net/~ejames/se/ Site of the Week: http://www.tha.gov.tt/ TnT Webdirectory: http://search.co.tt *********************************************************