Southwest Plans to Add 4,000 to Work Force

Southwest Airlines, which bucked the trend of layoffs and flight reductions after Sept. 11, plans to hire about 4,000 workers this year.

The help-wanted sign at Southwest contrasts with grim news from other airlines. While a few are calling back some of the workers they laid off last fall, none are talking about creating new jobs. Dallas-based Southwest is the only major U.S. airline still making money.

The largest carriers, AMR Corp.’s American and UAL Corp.’s United, lost $3.8 billion between them last year. Southwest, however, was not immune to the slowdown in business travel that started in 2001 or the steep decline in travel after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.

It put growth plans on hold and delayed aircraft orders. In December, Southwest announced it would take possession of two new Boeing 737s--the first additions to its fleet since the terrorist attacks.

But the hiring plans are Southwest’s strongest indication that it believes it can regain its previous double-digit growth. Southwest, which has 33,000 employees, says it plans to hire 250 pilots, 1,200 flight attendants and 2,600 other workers. Executives said that would match the hiring pace the airline had expected last year.

Southwest said the new jobs would be spread across the 59 airports where it operates and at nine reservations centers around the country. Officials said the greatest need for workers was in Baltimore, Chicago and Oakland.