Airways spent a 12 months slashing employees. Now, they’re preparing for a hiring spree – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The latest signs that air travel is returning to normal are two words that are repeated on most of the major US airlines. The end of the year. Southwest Airlines said it had fewer employee savings during the pandemic compared to its three major competitors, but it also has its own hiring process. We want to resume as many flights as possible, “said Sarah Nelson, president of the Flight Attendants Association, one of the major airlines. The Labor Group expects the number of flight attendants in work to increase from the current 80,000 to 100,000 within two years. “By the beginning of 2020, everyone said they would hire thousands,” Nelson said. “Actually, what we’re doing is getting back to where we were.” Recruitment initiatives come true faster than many expect. “It’s a bit surprising that they’re talking about it now. But that’s certainly a sign, said Philip Bagaley, chief credit analyst for Standard & Poor’s airlines, “trust will recover significantly by the end of the year.” Like an international trip, it’s a fraction of what it used to be. It is expected that it will take several years for these profitable sectors to return to normal. However, leisure traffic and bookings are already approaching pre-Covid levels, fares have been raised and staff are in urgent need. US airline employment is 9 / just before the pandemic hits. The highest since 11 and 757,000 employees-both full-time and part-time employees-according to the Department of Transportation Statistics, February 2020. That’s about 500,000 full-time employees. Eleven listed airlines in the United States report reducing their jobs by 18% by the end of 2020 through acquisitions, early retirement packages, and employees who took voluntary unpaid leave but maintained their benefits. Part of the salary in some cases. Voluntary leave with benefits was counted as a part-time worker in government employment statistics. The lowest point of employment came in October. In October, the government made a first round of federal financial support. A government has been enforced that prohibits involuntary dismissals, which is a regulation. Until the end. However, many of the dismissed workers returned when federal support for the second round was passed in December. In addition, as vaccination rates increased and travelers began to return to the sky, airlines helped maintain their salaries in the third round. We have begun to bring back employees on their own vacation. According to BTS, the total number of part-time and full-time employees has increased by 6% by March, and the rest of the year is expected to increase further, but airlines have set strict targets for the number of employees. Not shown. “There will be needs across the network,” said Robert Isom, president of American Airlines. We will permanently reduce the number of managers. United expects management compensation alone to save $ 300 million annually. Flight attendant jobs pay an average of $ 50,000 to $ 60,000 on major airlines, she said. Pilots earn more than twice that amount. However, more pilots and flight attendants will be needed to fill the vacant positions due to the early retirement package accepted in 2020. “Some people quit because of different jobs.” Passengers and cabins She added that intensifying conflicts with flight attendants left some employees in the industry last year, but the majority want to stay at work.

The latest signs that air travel is back to normal are two words that are repeated by most major airlines in the country.

The three major US airlines, American, United and Delta, have announced they are currently hiring or will be hiring by the end of the year. Southwest Airlines, which has fewer employee savings than its three major rivals during the pandemic, said it is also preparing its own hiring process.

Sarah Nelson, chairman of the Flight Attendants Association, one of the major airlines, said, “I think today’s airlines want to fly as many flights as possible. Labor groups work. The number of flight attendants in Japan is expected to increase from the current 80,000 to 100,000 within two years. [of the airlines] “They will hire thousands,” Nelson said. “What we’re actually doing is catching up with what we should be,” Nelson said.

Recruitment initiatives come to fruition faster than expected.

“It’s a little surprising they’re talking about this now, but they’re confident that they’ll see a significant recovery by the end of the year,” said Philip Bagley, chief airline analyst at Standard & Poor’s. I’m sure there is. “

Leisure trips are increasing

Air traffic Has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels — business trips, like international travel, are still just a small part of what it was before. It is expected that it will take several years for these profitable sectors to return to normal.But Leisure transportation and booking Is already approaching pre-Covid levels, fares have been raised, and the urgent need for staff is increasing.

Employment of US airlines has been high since 9/11, just before the pandemic, according to the Department of Transportation Statistics, with 757,000 full-time and part-time workers in February 2020. That was equivalent to about 500,000 full-time employees.

Eleven domestic listed airlines will hire 18% by the end of 2020 through acquisitions, early retirement packages, and employees who have taken voluntary unpaid leave but retained benefits and, in some cases, some of their salaries. It reports that it has been reduced. Voluntary leave with benefits was also counted as part-time workers in government employment statistics.

Is Employment lows This began in October when the government’s ban on airlines with involuntary headcount reductions, a provision of the first round of federal financial support, ended. However, many of the dismissed workers returned when federal support for the second round was passed in December.

More importantly, airlines have started to return to the sky as vaccination rates have risen. Callback Workers on voluntary leave. According to BTS, the total number of part-time and full-time employees has increased by 6% by March, and the rest of the year is expected to increase further, but airlines have set strict targets for the number of employees. Not shown. Will be rehired.

“There will be a need for the entire network,” said Robert Isom, president of American Airlines.

Airlines are trying to reduce their workforce in several positions, including reducing staff at airport gates and permanently reducing the number of managers. United said it expects to save $ 300 million a year on management compensation alone.

Unlike low-wage industries such as retail and hospitality, Nelson said he doesn’t think airlines will have a hard time attracting workers. Flight attendant jobs start at $ 50,000 on average for major airlines. She said she would pay $ 60,000. These airline pilots earn more than double that amount. However, more pilots and flight attendants will be needed to fill the vacant positions due to the early retirement package accepted in 2020.

“People retired or retired earlier than they had planned before the pandemic,” Nelson said. Rise of “some people quit because their jobs are different” Conflict between passengers and flight attendants Last year, some workers left the industry, but the overwhelming majority want to stay at work.

“This is your blood-staining job,” Nelson said.