=20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This article was sent to you by someone who found it on SFGate. The original article can be found on SFGate.com here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/news/archive/2004/03/09/f= inancial2148EST0384.DTL ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Tuesday, March 9, 2004 (AP) Report: JAL to slash 4,500 jobs in next three years (03-09) 18:48 PST TOKYO (AP) -- Japan's top carrier, Japan Airlines System Corp., will slash 4,500 jobs = in a restructuring plan, about one-third more than originally planned, a Japanese newspaper reported Wednesday. The job cuts amount to about 8 percent of its 57,000-person work force, and will be conducted through March 2007, the Nihon Keizai newspaper said. An airline spokeswoman refused to comment but said the company planned an announcement later Wednesday. Japan Airlines System was formed in 2002 from the merger of Japan Airlin= es and Japan Air System. The staff reduction, which will affect mainly ground crews, is intended to cut operating costs as the company finishes that deal, the newspaper said. The airline plans to achieve the payroll reduction through attrition. It will also push ahead with the consolidation of administrative divisions and group companies, the report said. JAL projects it will post a 50 billion yen ($450 million) loss for the fiscal year ending March 31 on a sharp decline in passenger traffic on its international routes, in part due to the war in Iraq. It also hopes that the personnel reduction will help turn around its business to post a profit of about 100 billion yen ($900 million) in fiscal 2006. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2004 AP