RENO - Citing the loss of 17 flights since last year, the Reno-Tahoe International Airport is announcing 11 people are being laid off, and other measures taken to save $2.5 million dollars.

In addition to the layoffs, the budget cuts will also include freezing positions, a voluntary salary freeze, buyouts, and program eliminations.

Including budget changes made in the last year, 17% (or 48 positions) of the Airport Authority personnel have been impacted.

An airport spokeswoman said the positions impacted are across the board including: management, airport police, operation employees, and technical staff. She said 28 positions are affected by this latest round of cuts.

Five of the flights lost this year were provided by Express Jet, which shut down it's operation in Reno, the spokeswoman said. Through the end of the current fiscal year the airport predicts passenger traffic will be down 15 percent compared to last year.