AJC article on the recalls
AirTran recalls, hires crew members
Preparation for summer season: 60 pilots to return from furlough; 120 new flight attendants hired.
By
Kelly Yamanouchi
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Saturday, January 10, 2009
AirTran Airways is calling another 60 pilots back to work from furlough and hiring more flight attendants, even though the airline is not growing.
Orlando-based AirTran, which has its main hub in Atlanta, announced last summer amid record oil prices it would cut flight attendants, pilots and other employees from its work force. The cuts through voluntary exits, leaves and furloughs were aimed at trimming about $16 million from annual costs.
AirTran said in August it was furloughing about 170 of its pilots as it shrank its flight schedule in the last four months of the year.
This year, AirTran plans to cut flight capacity about 3 to 7 percent. But as the airline prepares for the summer season, it is making its second round of pilot recalls.
The airline called about 35 pilots back to work in December as it prepared to fly its planes for longer hours in 2009. The latest round of recalled pilots will return to work Feb. 1. All of AirTran’s pilots are based in Atlanta.
Mike Best, president of the National Pilots Association at AirTran, said “we’re very hopeful” that the remaining pilots on furlough will be recalled this year.
AirTran is also calling back to work flight attendants who took leave and has hired about 120 new flight attendants due to attrition.
The flight attendants who return from leave will be back at work effective March 1.
“In the event that we don’t have enough come back from leave, we will have to go out and hire more flight attendants,” said AirTran spokesman Tad Hutcheson.
The airline is also hiring about a dozen mechanics, Hutcheson said.
Here's to hoping the rest of our brothers and sisters get called back soon! Cheers!!