[ Spirit Airlines... ]

SPIRIT AIRLINES

Gambling meccas to get nonstop link

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — A new nonstop flight will connect the nation’s two main gambling hot spots, Spirit Airlines said Thursday.

Flights between Atlantic City and Las Vegas will begin on May 3. The added flight is significant for Atlantic City International Airport, which is served by only two commercial carriers: Spirit and Delta Air Lines.

Spirit flies between Atlantic City and four cities in Florida — Fort Myers, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Tampa — and Myrtle Beach, S.C. In the spring and summer, the airline ceases operating the West Palm Beach flight and adds a Detroit flight instead. Delta Airlines flies nonstop from Atlantic City to its Atlanta hub and Orlando.

HERSHEY

Candymaker giving U.S. jobs to Mexico

HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Hershey Co., whose name has been synonymous with U.S. candymaking for more than a century, is moving a bigger chunk of its production to Mexico.

A day after Valentine sweethearts nationwide enjoyed bags of Hershey Kisses, the company on Thursday announced a restructuring plan that will scale back its work force by 1,500 jobs and force some plants to close.

Hershey said the three-year blueprint would reduce the number of production lines by more than one-third while saving the company as much as $190 million a year.

AMC

Theater chain losses not offset by merger

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — AMC Entertainment Inc., the nation’s second- largest theater chain, said its third-quarter loss widened despite a large jump in revenue linked to its merger last year with Loews Cineplex Entertainment Corp.

For the three months ending Dec. 28, the company said in a securities filing Wednesday that it lost $6.9 million, compared with a $4.3 million loss during the same period a year ago.

AMC Entertainment, with 382 theaters and 5,340 screens, is privately held but reports its financial data because some of its debt is still publicly traded. The company’s parent, Marquee Holdings Inc., said in December it plans to hold an initial public offering for AMC.

Revenue during the quarter jumped 49.7 percent from $398.5 million to $596.4 million, mostly from the addition of Loews theaters. AMC acquired Loews last January for $537 million, gaining control over or an interest in 183 theaters and 2,117 screens in the U.S., Mexico and Spain.

INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT

Housing, auto cuts lower nation’s figures

Industrial output fell in January by the largest amount in 17 months, reflecting huge cutbacks at auto factories and weakness in housing-related industries. The Federal Reserve reported Thursday that output at the nation’s factories, mines and utilities was down 0.5 percent in January, the biggest setback since Hurricane Katrina disrupted activity in 2005. Half of last month’s decline reflected a drop of 6 percent in output at auto and auto parts factories with smaller setbacks occurring in housing-related industries such as furniture and appliances.

Overall, manufacturing fell by 0.7 percent, with analysts predicting weakness in coming months reflecting the problems in autos and the slower housing industry.

— From news services

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