UPS gives date for pullout at airport
Parcel service says June will be final month for 1,250
By Timothy R. Gaffney

Dayton Daily News

DAYTON | — Adding details to an earlier announcement, United Parcel Service Inc. has told its 1,250 Dayton air freight hub workers their jobs will go away in the month of June, a spokesman said Friday.

Timing of the Atlanta-based shipper's plans to close the hub at Dayton International Airport hinged on expansion of its main air hub in Louisville, Ky., and construction of five regional hubs at airports across the country.

"We had to make sure that construction stayed on schedule," UPS spokesman Norman Black said. "Our current plan is to use the month of June to slowly transition freight operations to Louisville and other facilities."

The Dayton hub will stay in full operation in June but will close by June 30, he said.

Its closure will cost the airport millions in lost revenues from cargo airline operations.

Local officials are searching for another activity to fill the hub, which UPS acquired from CNF Inc.'s Menlo Worldwide in 2004.

"We're continuing discussions with our consultant and getting better information on the possibilities for reuse.? (UPS has) made it real clear they're willing to work with us," said Stanley Earley, Dayton assistant city manager.

Last year, officials worried UPS might keep the vacant hub to prevent competition from another air freight company. The complex was built for heavyweight air freight.

"We don't want to hold onto the building. We want to sell it," Black said.

He said the hub workers have supported UPS's request not to abandon the hub, and employment has dropped only slightly from the 1,400 at the time of the announcement in Feburary 2005.

UPS has hired an outplacement firm to help employees find new jobs this spring, he said.


Contact Timothy Gaffney at (937) 225-2390.

where is your old avatar? it was awesome!

What can brown do to you?

Lets see, allow IPA pilots to fly their OWN freight? How's that for starters?
All you that bash UPS for taking over it's own heavy freight flying should actually be glad we are as it opens up more high paying, career positions at UPS.

I'm sure that will be very comforting to all those in Dayton that will be unemployed, but hey, so what? You got yours!

Oh yeah... just like the pilots at Challenge Air Cargo. To bad the UPS guys didn't give a rats @ss about the Challenge guys who were put out on the street

I guess all of you brown tails will give all at DAY letters of recommendation for interviews at UPS... just like the Challenge guys?

Spare us the Koolaide rah rah speeches.

Would you like some cheese to go with your whine?

I don't go for the SCREW OFF tops.

Why do the ACMI companies think that the DAY flying is theirs forever? Why is UPS putting them out on the street? The nature of the ACMI business are contracts providing lift. Contracts expire at some point. It is up to your company to find more work. This is what puts your pilots on the street. It's not us. I hate seeing pilots lose their jobs; I've been there 3 times in the last 5 years, so I know how it feels. We here at UPS don't find joy in the fact that pilots may hit the street because of this, but if you are at an ACMI company, that is a risk that YOU are taking. It is not our fault that you are employed where you are. I'm sorry if this sounds harsh, but it is reality; it is business. Those contracts were bound to end eventually.

As for the Challenge Air deal, I wasn't here when that happened, so I have nothing to say about that.

Why should we? They are CONTRACTORS! I busted my a$$ to get here; if you want to work here, bust your a$$ too. No one is guaranteed anything in life, except death and paying taxes.

Again, why is this the fault of UPS and our pilots? If you work for a contractor, it's up to YOUR company to find more work. If they don't, then get mad at your own company. I'm getting really tired of everyone saying that the IPA and UPS is putting pilots on the street. Take your frustrations out where they belong - your own management.

The ACMI's are *****ing and moaning like the commuter pilots do that think the flying is "theirs"!