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United To Discontinue Low-Cost Carrier; Tampa May Be Affected

Tribune photo by KELVIN MA (2005)

A Ted flight backs out to the runway at Tampa International Airport on Nov. 2, 2005.

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By TED JACKOVICS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 4, 2008

TAMPA - United Airlines said today it will discontinue Ted, its "airline within an airline," as part of cost-saving move. United did not announce a date for shutting down Ted.

Ted serves Tampa International Airport and 19 other destinations. It is possible that some local flights could be trimmed as the transition from Ted to mainline United Airlines flights takes place. United plans to reduce domestic capacity of airline seats by 14 percent by year's end, compared with a year ago.

Tampa International Airport Director Louis Miller said it is likely Ted's routes will continue to be served from Tampa by United.

United created Ted in 2004 to compete with low-cost carriers.

Ted operates three flights daily on each of three routes between Tampa and Chicago, Denver and Washington.

In addition to eliminating Ted, United plans to reduce 1,100 jobs.

Those cuts would come on top of 500 job cuts announced recently.

United announced a $547 million loss in the first quarter ended March 31.

Spirit Airlines, which announced Tuesday it might cut up to 212 of its 540 pilots, said today it has not decided yet about possible flight schedule cutbacks at Tampa International Airport.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817 and tjackovics @tampatrib.com.

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