Berkshire’s NetJets will lay off up to 495 pilots

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Private air charter service NetJets Inc. says it will lay off up to 495 pilots nationwide because of a decrease in demand.

NetJets, which caters to companies and business executives, made the announcement Thursday.

Chairman and CEO David Sokol of Omaha said the decision was based on a comprehensive analysis of current and projected flight demand.

The layoffs will take effect Jan. 15.

The company employs more than 3,000 pilots worldwide, with most of them operating in the United States.

NetJets, based in Columbus, is a unit of Omaha investor Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc.