The closing of the American Airlines overhaul base in north Kansas City is expected to have a significant impact in St. Joseph.

The company announced Wednesday that the base will close next year in September, eliminating 500 jobs.

Bill Caldwell, a long-time employee from southern Buchanan County, estimated that the overhaul facility, located near Kansas City International Airport, employs about 100 people from St. Joseph, southern Buchanan County or Platte County.

“There’s a lot of people at AA who live in St. Joseph and to the south,” he said. “The residual effect of losing 500 well-paying jobs in north Kansas City will hurt the St. Joe economy.”

The average wage at the overhaul base is $50,000 to $55,000 a year. About 450 workers are in the Transport Workers Union.

American’s own fleet has shrunk from more than 900 planes to about 600 over the past decade as it has been rocked by the 2001 terror attacks, two recessions, more competition from low-fare carriers, and a deep slump in business travel, the Associated Press reported.

The Kansas City overhaul base employed more than 2,000 people 10 years ago, when it was still part of TWA.

American parent AMR Corp., based in Fort Worth, has been losing money, and revenue is down 20 percent from a year ago. The company still has a large overhaul base in Tulsa, Okla.

Mr. Caldwell said one reason for the closing is that newer planes don’t require as much maintenance. “The newer planes have less corrosion. The engines are damned-near bullet proof,” he said.