News Briefs
AA to cut maintenance, engineering jobs
In another cost-cutting effort to boost revenue, AMR Corp., parent of American Airlines Inc., announced it will close its Kansas City, Mo., maintenance base next September, eliminating 700 management and union positions nationwide.
The Fort Worth-based airline said the move – a result of decreased travel demand that has reduced the need for such facilities – will include the closing of smaller maintenance stations at airports in Kansas City, Detroit, Minneapolis and San Jose, Calif., and the downsizing of a station in St. Louis, where it is sharply cutting flights.
American said it would offer voluntary exit options for its unionized workforce, and an optional separation allowance of $12,500 for eligible employees in Kansas City and St. Louis.
American acquired the Kansas City maintenance base in 2001 as part of its purchase of Trans World Airlines Inc. assets. The closing will leave American’s Fort Worth Alliance Airport and Tulsa maintenance centers as the primary locations for maintenance, repair and overhaul on the carrier’s fleet.
– Betty Dillard
Chesapeake pulls back from New York
Chesapeake Energy Corp. confirmed Oct. 28 it will pull out of plans to drill natural gas wells within the New York City watershed.
“Though Chesapeake believes it can drill safely in any watershed, including New York City’s as confirmed by New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation’s supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS), we have chosen to focus our efforts on more promising areas for gas development in the state,” said Aubrey K. McClendon, Chesapeake’s CEO, in a statement.
Environmental groups have argued that drilling could contaminate water supplies in the New York City area. New York is within the massive Marcellus Shale formations that includes also Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio. Oklahoma City-based Chesapeake Energy has 1.5 million net acres under lease in the Marcellus Shale. Chesapeake officials say they expect to become the largest producer of natural gas in the Marcellus Shale by the end of the year.
Chesapeake Energy and other energy companies in the Marcellus Shale, such as Fort Worth-based Range Resources Corp., have both been pressing others in the natural gas industry to be more open about the drilling process, particularly on the chemicals used in fracing fluid, one of the key points of dispute between the industry and environmental groups.
– Robert Francis
Legoland planned for Grapevine Mills
A new $12 million entertainment venue soon will be built at Grapevine Mills shopping mall – in more ways than one – as the property has announced the addition of Legoland Discovery Centre, a two to three-hour indoor Lego experience.
The latest addition to Grapevine’s growing entertainment, shopping and educational venues was announced on Oct. 27.
Global leisure giant Merlin Entertainments will build the attraction as part of an aggressive worldwide growth strategy.
Work is expected to begin on the project in June 2010, with the Legoland Discovery Centre set to open in March 2011.
Simon Property Group, which is working with Merlin Entertainments on a number of projects in the USA, helped to facilitate the deal.
– Aleshia Howe
Travel company relocates to Fort Worth
CCRA Travel Solutions, a travel distribution and technology consortium serving the hospitality and professional travel planner industries, announced Oct. 27 the company will relocate its corporate headquarters from Agoura Hills, Calif., to Fort Worth by the second quarter of 2010.
The company said it will be hiring for some positions here and also plans to maintain a presence in California.
The decision to relocate is part of the company’s ongoing consolidation of its three operating divisions, Reservation Center, CCRA Supplier Strategies and CCRAtravel.com under the CCRA Travel Solutions banner earlier this year.
– Betty Dillard
GameStop plans to hire 15,000 for holidays
GameStop Corp., based in Grapevine, is gearing up for the rest of the year and announced Oct. 27 it plans to hire about 15,000 seasonal part-time employees between now and Dec. 24 to fill open positions at its 4,300 U.S. stores.
The numbers are consistent with seasonal hiring efforts in past years, according to a release, and will increase the company’s total headcount by about 46 percent and in-store game adviser headcount by 78 percent.
– Elizabeth Bassett
Fort Worth alley pins down top women’s bowling event
Cityview Lanes, a 64-lane center in Fort Worth, will host the qualifying and match-play rounds of the 2010 U.S. Women’s Open May 6-11, the United States Bowling Congress said Oct. 26.
The group’s 2010 Hall of Fame dinner also will take place in Fort Worth on May 11, 2010, at the City Club, while the 2010 USBC Hall of Fame ceremonies will be May 12, 2010, on the grounds of the International Bowling Campus in Arlington. Last year, the campus became the new home to the International Bowling Museum.
Proceeds from tickets sold will benefit the museum.
After the ceremony, the live televised finals of the U.S. Women’s Open will take place at the International Training and Research Center on the Arlington campus at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
– Betty Dillard
RadioShack income drops, but still positive
RadioShack Corp. reported net income of $37.4 million for the third quarter 2009 based off strong sales of mobile phone products, compared to a net income of $49.1 million for the same quarter last year.
The Fort Worth-based electronics retailer’s total net sales and operating revenues were down 3.1 percent to $990 million, while comparable same-store sales dropped 2.9 percent from the previous year, according to the Oct. 26 statement.
“Our financial performance improved in the latter part of the quarter, primarily driven by our strong mobility business combined with an economy showing some signs of potential stabilization,” said Jim Gooch, executive vice president and chief financial officer, in the statement.
The company’s stock value has gained 51 percent for the year to trade at about $18 per share. The company’s share price has gained about 57 percent over the past 12 months.
– John-Laurent Tronche
Gift establishes program at Neeley business school
A $300,000 gift to the Neeley School of Business at Texas Christian University from alumni Marilyn and Mike Berry has established Neeley Premium Credentials, a leadership program for undergraduate business students at the school.
The multi-tierd credentialing program will provide students with targeted personal growth during their three years in the Neeley School, the university said.
Marilyn Berry is a 1986 graduate of the Harris College of Nursing at TCU, while Mike Berry received his MBA from the Neeley School in 1982. He is president of Hillwood Properties and is a member of the Neeley International Board of Visitors.
– Betty Dillard
