(DAYTON) PSA Airlines will permanently close its Dayton, Ohio headquarters and move the operation to Charlotte, North Carolina, a shift that will trigger phased layoffs beginning this fall and continuing through 2027. In a formal notice to state officials, the American Airlines subsidiary said approximately 157 Dayton-based employees will be affected as the company consolidates leadership roles and support functions in Charlotte.
The first round of layoffs starts October 29, 2025, with additional job cuts scheduled through April 29, 2027. Employees have been offered relocation to Charlotte; those who decline will be laid off.
WARN notice, unions, and company rationale
PSA filed a WARN notice (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) with Ohio authorities, confirming there are no bumping rights for affected employees. WARN notices are required when employers plan large-scale job cuts or closures so workers receive advance notice.
The company acknowledged the impact on families in Dayton, calling the decision difficult but aligned with PSA’s long-term growth strategy centered on its largest base in Charlotte.
- CEO Dion Flannery confirmed the relocation and said he hopes many Dayton employees will choose to move to North Carolina.
- Christine Hollanshead, PSA’s Vice President of Talent Management and HR, cited Charlotte’s strong aviation talent pool and characterized the move as a “win-win-win” for the airline and the region.
- Some affected workers are represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (Air Transport District 142) and the Transportation Workers Union of America (Local 592), which are tracking the transition and worker support options.
Relocation decision and employment options
All affected PSA Airlines employees in Dayton have been offered the chance to relocate to Charlotte. The airline reports it will have over 2,200 Charlotte-based team members, including 400+ employees at the new headquarters.
- Workers who choose to relocate will be transferred to Charlotte roles.
- Workers who decline relocation will be laid off on a phased schedule as the Dayton site closes.
PSA confirmed the Dayton headquarters closure to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services as part of its WARN notice.
Company size, operations, and growth context
Key company figures and operational context:
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total PSA employees | 5,152 |
| Pilots | ~2,000 |
| Flight attendants | ~1,600 |
| Mechanics | ~700 |
| Fleet | 142 CRJ 700/900 aircraft |
| Additional aircraft scheduled | 14 |
| Daily departures (total) | ~750 |
| Daily departures from Charlotte | ~180 |
Analysis by VisaVerge.com notes that consolidating leadership roles at a major hub often reflects a broader airline trend: centralizing operations where flight volume, maintenance capacity, and hiring pipelines are strongest. That alignment is evident here given PSA’s Charlotte growth plan, incoming aircraft, and hiring outlook.
The new Charlotte headquarters is scheduled to open in January 2026. PSA also announced a three-year community partnership with the Charlotte Knights, further tying the airline to its future home base.
Layoff timeline (phased schedule)
PSA said the layoffs will roll out in phases as Dayton operations wind down and jobs move to Charlotte. The planned dates are:
Initial layoffs begin (phase 1)
Second scheduled round of layoffs (phase 2)
New Charlotte headquarters scheduled to open
Third scheduled round of layoffs (phase 3)
Fourth scheduled round of layoffs (phase 4)
Fifth scheduled round of layoffs (phase 5)
Sixth scheduled round of layoffs (phase 6)
Seventh scheduled round of layoffs (phase 7)
Final scheduled round of layoffs (phase 8) and planned completion of Dayton headquarters wind-down
- October 29, 2025 (initial layoffs)
- December 29, 2025
- January 29, 2026
- February 10, 2026
- February 18, 2026
- April 29, 2026
- November 29, 2026
- April 29, 2027
Important: The notice states there are no bumping rights — employees cannot displace others with less seniority to keep a job.
Workers deciding whether to relocate will have to weigh the move against personal, family, and cost-of-living considerations. PSA leadership hopes a majority will accept relocation offers, but many may choose to remain in Ohio due to school commitments, home ownership, or family care.
Support services and how workers can get help
PSA encouraged employees to contact state resources for transition assistance. Available help includes:
- Unemployment compensation
- Job matching
- Training funds
- Resume writing
- Interview preparation
- Hiring events
State contact information:
– Ohio Department of Job & Family Services resource page: https://jfs.ohio.gov/home
– Phone: (614) 466-6282
PSA identified the company contact:
– Deborah Quigley, Director of Labor and Employment — [email protected] or 704.491.8826
Company information and career resources: http://www.psaairlines.com
Local and state officials are coordinating with the company and workforce partners to manage the transition over multiple months. Because the layoff schedule stretches into 2027, there will be several windows to enroll in training, attend hiring fairs, and apply for available roles in the region.
Union representatives have urged fair treatment and clear communication across each phase. Aviation analysts note the move aligns with a pattern of airlines consolidating management functions near their largest operations for efficiency and access to talent.
Regional and worker impact
The regional impact on Dayton will extend beyond the 157 direct positions. Headquarters teams often support local vendors, hospitality, and transportation providers, so the closure may ripple through the local economy.
- Some workers may move to Charlotte and retain employment with PSA.
- Others will remain in Ohio and seek roles in aviation, manufacturing, logistics, or service sectors.
- State training resources can help experienced airline staff (administrators, schedulers, IT specialists, finance staff) transition to nearby industries that need their skills.
From PSA’s perspective, centralizing in Charlotte reflects its operational footprint: with 180 daily departures from Charlotte and fleet growth, placing leadership and support teams at the largest base aims to streamline decision-making and connect management to flight operations, crew scheduling, and maintenance.
What affected employees should do now
- Gather documents for unemployment claims and contact the state early.
- Explore training and reemployment programs available through the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services.
- Consider the personal and family implications of relocation versus remaining in Ohio.
PSA has made clear: employees who decline relocation will be separated on the dates listed, consistent with the WARN notice.
For questions about the closure and phased process:
– Contact Deborah Quigley at 704.491.8826 or [email protected].
– Visit the state resource page: https://jfs.ohio.gov/home.
– Company updates and general information: http://www.psaairlines.com.
This Article in a Nutshell
PSA Airlines will close its Dayton headquarters and consolidate leadership and support functions in Charlotte, citing Charlotte’s large aviation talent pool and operational scale. The company filed a WARN notice affecting roughly 157 Dayton employees and scheduled phased layoffs from October 29, 2025, through April 29, 2027. Employees may relocate to Charlotte; those who decline will be laid off. PSA plans to open the new Charlotte headquarters in January 2026 and expects over 2,200 regional staff, including more than 400 at the HQ. Unions are tracking the transition, while state resources and company contacts will provide unemployment assistance, job matching, training funds, and career services. The consolidation aligns management with PSA’s largest base but will create economic ripple effects in Dayton beyond the direct job losses.
