DALLAS (AP) —
Southwest Airlines is offering buyouts and extended leaves of absence to airport workers to avoid what it calls “overstaffing in certain locations,” which it blames on a shortage of new planes from Boeing.
The move on Monday comes as a hedge fund presses Southwest to increase profits and boost the stock price, which has fallen sharply since early 2021.
A Southwest spokesperson said the offers of “voluntary separation” are limited to 18 airports. The company declined to identify the airports or say how many jobs it hopes to eliminate.