Today I learned what we've all been expecting around here. US Airways (the nation's 7th largest airline) has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy...AGAIN!
This is a serious blow to the economy in Pennsylvania. US Airways employs nearly 8,000 people in the Pittsburgh area (Pittsburgh Post Gazette 9-13-2004) and another 5,700 in the Philadelphia area (Philadelphia Inquirer 9-13-2004). If the company ends up going Chapter 7 the Commonwealth's "Job Centers" are going to be a lot busier.
What's worse is that if there are disruptions in service other businesses in the region could be affected. If business travel is impeded we can expect even more jobs to be leaving and fewer vacationers visiting Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Lancaster, Erie and Hershey Park. This will hurt us even more. Well at least the PA Elk herd is growing...
So, will the last person to leave the state please turn out the lights