DALLAS—American Airlines officials have told employees that the carrier expects to cut about 8 percent of management and support jobs at the nation’s biggest airline as it copes with record high jet fuel prices.

The cuts will apply to “all levels of management” and probably be based on how critical the person’s job is, Faye Wright, the managing director of flight services, told employees in an e-mail obtained by The Associated Press.

In a letter this week to employees, Jeffrey Brundage, the airline’s senior vice president of human resources, said reductions would vary by department but hew to the 8 percent range. He said the job cuts would be completed in September.

Brundage said the cuts are “difficult, but necessary changes in light of the challenges we face with overcapacity in the industry, skyrocketing fuel and a worsening U.S. economy.”

The airline has not disclosed the number of pilots, flight attendants and mechanics who will lose their jobs.

American has about 82,000 employees, although it wasn’t immediately clear how many are considered to hold management or support jobs.

Executives announced last month that American would cut capacity in the October-to-December quarter by 11 percent to 12 percent compared with late 2007. Sister carrier American Eagle would also reduce capacity.