Armstrong Cutting Corporate Flight Operations

Lancaster, PA, April 21, 2010--Armstrong World Industries said Tuesday it will close its flight operations department May 31 as a way to cut costs, according to a story in Lancaster Online.

The move will save the company about $1 million a year, the story said.

"It's no longer affordable as a business tool," Armstrong spokeswoman Beth Riley told the newspaper.

"We're under significant pressure to continue to take costs out, given the current economic conditions."

Lancaster-based Armstrong, a maker of floors, ceilings and cabinets, uses its jets to fly customers and employees to and from its factories, its headquarters and industry meetings.

"The majority of our manufacturing locations are in fairly remote locations," which are not served by commercial air service, Riley said.

However, with the end of the company's flight operations department, Armstrong employees will use commercial means to travel to those sites and elsewhere.