Oct. 28, 2009 (United Press International) -- A union leader confirmed American Airlines (NYSE:AMR) plans to announce closure of its Kansas City, Mo., maintenance base at the cost of about 500 jobs.

Gordon Clark, president of Transport Workers Union Local 530 said the company planned to inform workers of the closure Wednesday, the Kansas City Star reported.

Airline officials informed city leaders of the decision Tuesday, the newspaper said.

American Airlines also runs maintenance facilities in Tulsa, Okla. and Fort Worth, Texas.

In Tulsa, business leaders said it was likely the company would announce their decision to close the Kansas City facility then look for a deal from Tulsa to move the jobs to Oklahoma, where there are already 7,000 American Airlines jobs, including 6,000 mechanics.