Continental to furlough 148 pilotsSeptember 9, 2008 4:44 PM ET =0Aadvertise= ment =0AArticle tools=0A=09* E-mail this article=0A=09* Print-friendly ve= rsion=0A=09* Discuss this article=0AStocks mentioned in this article=0ACon= tinental Airlines Inc (CAL) Stock Quote, Chart, News, Add to Watchlist=0ARe= lated news=0A=09* Stocks rally on plan for mortgage giants=0A=09* Oil edges= higher with Ike still aiming for Gulf=0AAll Associated Press news=0AHOUSTO= N (AP) - The pilots' union at Continental Airlines Inc. said Tuesday that t= he carrier began furloughing 148 pilots, but that additional layoffs were a= voided through voluntary steps such as early retirements.=0AThe company had= said last month it would lay off 140 to 180 pilots as it began reducing fl= ights in a cost-cutting move as it tries to cope with high fuel prices and = weakening demand for travel.=0AThe Air Line Pilots Association said the lay= offs began Tuesday. The union said 326 jobs were saved due to an agreement = with the company that included incentives for pilots to retire early or tak= e voluntary leave and to reduce flying hours.=0AThe company has about 5,000= pilots.=0AA company spokeswoman had no immediate comment.=0AThe pilots lay= offs are part of more than 2,500 jobs that have been eliminated at Continen= tal, the fourth-largest U.S. carrier. The others were accomplished with vol= untary measures such as leaves and retirements and not layoffs, the company= has said.=0ASeparately on Tuesday, Continental said it would shake up its = U.S.-U.K. service by scrapping flights from Newark, N.J., and Houston to Lo= ndon's Gatwick Airport in favor of adding a third flight from Newark to Lon= don's Heathrow Airport.=0AContinental said customers prefer Heathrow.=0ASha= res of Continental fell 96 cents, or 5.6 percent, to close at $16.14.=0A=A9= 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be p= ublished, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> If you wish to unsubscribe from the AIRLINE List, please send an E-mail to: "listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx". Within the body of the text, only write the following:"SIGNOFF AIRLINE".