Rep. Marcia Fudge disappointed by airport service cuts, hopes United Airlines will reconsider

Published February 03, 2014 at 11:34 a.m.

By Sabrina Eaton from the Cleveland Plain Dealer

WASHINGTON, D. C. - Warrensville Heights Democratic Rep. Marcia Fudge on Monday said she's disappointed by United Airlines' decision to reduce regional fight service out of Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and eliminate roughly 470 jobs.

In a statement emailed to reporters on Monday morning, Fudge said she hopes the company will "live up to its stated intention of providing displaced employees with transfer options and outplacement assistance to ease the impact these job losses will have."

"Northeast Ohio was impacted severely by the Great Recession, but the economy has been slowly improving as evidenced recently by the first increase in passenger volume at Hopkins since 2007," Fudge's statement said. "As the local economy continues to improve, I urge United to reevaluate market conditions and consider restoring service needed for our residents and business community to prosper."

Fudge also said she's encouraged the airline will continue offering Clevelanders non-stop flights to many destinations. She said she'll lend any assistance she can to "state, county and city officials to find other air carriers to fill the void created by United's cutbacks at Hopkins."