Delta Air Lines Inc., the world’s largest carrier, said it will recall furloughed attendants and hire an undetermined number of new workers as it adds flights. The airline expects to begin training the attendants in January and have them flying by mid-2011. Delta is adding international flights as the economy recovers and businesses resume travel. The airline said Aug. 4 that its passenger traffic across the Pacific Ocean rose 13 percent this year through July, while Latin American traffic increased 5.3 percent from the year-earlier period.
Airline labor agreements generally require furloughed employees be given a chance to return before new workers are hired. Delta follows the same policy even though its flight attendants don’t belong to a union. About 700 of the airline’s flight attendants remain on furlough, said Gina Laughlin, a company spokeswoman.
Delta said last month it would fill 1,000 jobs at its 25 biggest U.S. airports to help with planes flying at near-record capacity and better cope with weather disruptions. Delta, with about 81,000 workers, has also announced plans to hire 240 pilots. The Salt Lake Tribune
