Air General cargo company in Charlotte to lay off about 100 people, close some operations
Cargo company Air General is ending operations at a west Charlotte warehouse, which will leave almost 100 people without jobs in the spring.
The layoffs will occur on March 31 for people working at the facility at 4706 Yorkmont Road near Charlotte Douglas International Airport, according to Air General.
A letter from the Portsmouth, New Hampshire-based company about the closing was sent to the N.C. Department of Commerce, Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles and Mark Jerrell, chair of the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners. The notice was made in accordance with North Carolina’s Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act on Monday.
Employees provide import, export and transfer services for American Airlines at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The closure will be permanent. Some of the positions are office agents, warehouse jobs, supervisors, and field trainers.
The employees were notified about the layoffs.
Air General did not give a reason for ending operations at the Yorkmont Road site in the letter to state and local leaders.
The decision to discontinue operations after 25 years was initiated by “a customer” who selected a new cargo provider, according to a statement provided Kevin Laurendeau, vice president of human resources for Air General. The changeover will start April 1. He did not name the customer.
Air General is working with the new cargo service provider to ensure operations continue smoothly, according to a company said.
“We are hopeful that many of the Air General employees affected by the layoff will find opportunities with the new provider, reflecting our ongoing dedication to our workforce,” the company statement said.
The company operates two other locations in Charlotte: 3101 Yorkmont Road, with service for Germany-based Lufthansa; and 4818 Express Drive, for Southwest Airlines.
Air General said it’s looking forward to continuing service in the Charlotte region.
“Air General remains committed to serving the CLT market for many years to come,” the company statement said. “We will continue to invest in our employees, facilities, and technology to meet the evolving demands of the Charlotte market.”
More on Air General
Air General was founded in 1961. The company provides airline and ocean cargo/freight handling and warehousing services. It has 34 facilities throughout the U.S. and works with more than 31 airlines.
More than 700 people are employed by the company.
This story was originally published January 29, 2025 at 2:50 PM with the headline "Air General cargo company in Charlotte to lay off about 100 people, close some operations."
