American Airlines asked 3,300 flight attendants to return and plans new hires.
American Airlines Group said on Thursday it has asked about 3,300 flight attendants on voluntary leave to return by the holiday travel season to meet rising customer demand, according to a letter to staff reviewed by Reuters.
See also: American Airlines sues Sabre.
The U.S. airline said it would also begin recruiting and hiring about 800 new flight attendants by March 2022.
“Increasing customer demand and new routes starting later this year mean we need more flight attendants to operate the airline,” the company said.
See also: American Airlines announces new routes to Colombia and Mexico.
American Airlines furloughed around 8,000 flight attendants when federal aid for airline workers temporarily expired last year and thousands of others have taken voluntary leave programs meant to save costs during the pandemic.
But as travel demand has surged thanks to speedy COVID-19 vaccinations and easing restrictions, airlines have scrambled to bring back employees whose jobs may have otherwise been at risk when a third round of government aid expires in October.
Chief Executive Officer Doug Parker has said demand remains strong in July and for the remainder of the summer, with business customers increasingly returning.
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