KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Hundreds of American Airlines employees will be out of work next year but they have a shot at new jobs in aviation.
AAR Corporation held a job fair this morning at the Embassy Suites near the airport. The company provides products and services for the airline industry.
AAR invited 500 employees from the American Airlines overhaul base at KCI to attend.
Last month airline officials announced they will close the base in September of 2010. Some of the employees will be eligible for retirement. Others will be looking for work.
“Immediately when we found out we knew that some of the skill set that they have will fit some of the skill sets that we have in our organization as well,” says Darrell Sims.
The company has 100 job openings in Oklahoma City. AAR does not have a plant in the Kansas City area.
Workers who attended the job fair say times are tough so they will consider moving.
“I would love to stay in Kansas City. But I saw an opportunity here. So I thought I would come and see what they were offering,” says Mark Burke who was laid off in 2004.
He hasn’t had much luck finding a new job.
Neither has Pete Gibson. He was laid off in 2005.
“This is my home. Kansas City has been my home for... since 1963. I don't want to leave it,” says Gibson.
Workers believe they have a hard time landing jobs because their skills are so specialized.
Sims says they plan to come to Kansas City every month to recruit workers.
