WILMINGTON --
The latest move in the shutdown of DHL's shipping operation in Wilmington was expected, but no less painful for workers.
ABX Air, one of two cargo airlines responsible for most of the package sorting and shipping for DHL Express, announced the layoff of just over 1,000 workers on Wednesday, nearly half of its remaining work force.
The layoffs begin this week and will continue to the end of August, the company said.
Beginning with 550 employees in 1980, ABX Air, formerly Airborne Express, grew to more than 7,000 workers by 2008.
But when DHL decided to remove its operation from the Wilmington Air Park last year, ABX Air suddenly had far less need for workers.
The latest layoffs will leave the company with about 1,000 workers, plus another 300 at a spun-off maintenance business, Airborne Maintenance and Engineering Services.
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