Southwest Airlines has initiated voluntary separation buyouts for ground staff at 18 airports, including major locations like Los Angeles and Atlanta, due to delivery delays affecting their fleet capacity.
The airline announced that these measures are part of a broader strategy to manage overstaffing as it has reduced its overall capacity in response to a constrained fleet.
The buyouts specifically target ground staff and some support employees at headquarters, while pilots and cabin crews will not be impacted; the exact number of positions to be eliminated remains undisclosed.
The downsizing is influenced by ongoing Boeing aircraft delivery issues, with Southwest projecting to receive only 20 out of the originally expected 85 B737-8s this year, which further complicates their staffing needs.
