Job losses continue at ABX Air
ABX Air informed the state of Ohio that it is laying off almost 350 more workers as the company shrinks in the wake of express courier DHL's decision to pull out of the U.S. domestic delivery market, newspapers in Dayton reported.
DHL decided in November to focus on serving customers with international shipping needs after losing billions of dollars in a failed effort to set up a domestic air and ground network to rival FedEx and UPS. The German-based express carrier is closing its main package sort hub in Wilmington, Ohio, as part of its restructuring.
The news threatened the existence of ABX and Astar Air Cargo, domestic air cargo contractors that depended on DHL's business for the vast majority of their business.
ABX Air has already laid off hundreds of workers in the past eight months.
Meanwhile, ABX’s parent company, Air Transport Services Group Inc., said Wednesday that another subsidiary, Cargo Aircraft Management Inc. has signed an option agreement to lease up to five Boeing 767-200 freighters to Amerijet International, Inc., of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
It said Amerijet has exercised options for two freighters under seven-year dry-lease agreements and is expected to begin operating those two aircraft following FAA approval around mid-year.