United Airlines (UA, Chicago O'Hare) will layoff about 685 flight attendants as part of plans to cut USD2billion in costs. In a statement, the US carrier said the need for an involuntary redundancy drive came after it received few takers for a voluntary retrenchment and job share-partnership programme. According to the Association of Flight Attendants' (AFA) trade union, among the first to go will be its "most junior members". Reuters newswire reports that United Continental said in November it would cut costs by USD2billion every year through measures including increasing productivity, reducing sourcing costs, improving maintenance processes and inventory procedures, and optimising distribution methods.