GroundSupportWorldWide.com |

United Airlines will eliminate 272 baggage handlers in Denver as part of the 7,000 jobs it plans to cut across its system.

The carrier informed affected workers over the past week, telling the final group on Wednesday. The cuts, which take effect Sept. 7, represent about 6 percent of its local employee base.

"This is a difficult but necessary step as a result of continued high fuel costs," said United spokeswoman Megan McCarthy.

The reductions come on top of 150 local positions the company cut last month, including 100 baggage handlers and 50 customer service agents, according to information United previously provided to state officials. It also will furlough 17 pilots in Denver this fall.

United has laid out plans to cut at least 439 positions — or 10 percent of its local employee base — this year. That will give it a work force here of just more than 5,000.

More layoffs and furloughs likely are on the horizon.

United previously announced moves to eliminate roughly 7,000 positions in phases by the end of next year through furloughs, layoffs and attrition. The carrier has not said how many positions it will eliminate in Denver, but it plans to end several dozen flights here later this year.