Northwest Airlines Corp., which struggled with pilot staffing levels over the summer, said last week that it will hire up to 5,000 workers this year.
That number does not include 350 new pilots the company said it would hire after it canceled thousands of flights in June and July because of inadequate staffing. Northwest said it already has filled 3,600 of the 5,000 positions, which include flight attendants, customer service and reservation agents, ground workers and baggage handlers.
Northwest spokesman Roman Blahoski said the hiring is because of the company’s growth and attrition levels and is not related to the company’s bankruptcy restructuring.
“We’re hiring for positions across the system,” he said.
Northwest also is opening a new reservations center in Sioux City, Iowa, that will employ 300 people.
The airline – which has significant operations at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks — now has 31,000 employees, up from 30,008 as of March 31. Chief Executive Doug Steenland cut the workforce by 22 percent during the airline’s 22 months in Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which ended May 31.
Northwest also announced several management changes, which include the promotion or appointment of 16 executives and the resignation of Suzanne Boda, the company’s vice president of inflight services. The changes will be effective Oct. 1.
Minneapolis-based airline watchdog Terry Trippler said management changes were needed.
“They needed to adjust things,” Trippler said. “They have the company down to fighting weight, and they need the management to match.”
Air Line Pilots Association spokesman Monty Montgomery said he hopes the new executive team focuses on fixing problems with employees and customers.
Small Change
“We don’t see this as a dramatic change,” Montgomery said. “They’re tweaking the management team a little bit. The main thing for us is that whoever takes these positions needs to restore faith and confidence in employees and, ultimately, our customers.”
The company ignited frustration among passengers over the summer when it scrapped more than 4,000 flights over a two-month period.
Northwest blamed the cancellations on pilot absenteeism, while pilots attributed the problem to crew shortages and an exhausted workforce.
