Southwest Airlines hired a record 3,000 flight attendants so far this year

Passengers deplane from a Southwest Airlines flight from Las Vegas at Hollywood Burbank Airport in Burbank, California, Oct. 10, 2021. Southwest Airlines canceled more than 1,000 flights Sunday, as part of a major weekend service disruption that the carrier attributed to bad weather, air traffic control and its own shortage of available staff.

Southwest Airlines told staff last week that it has hired and trained 3000 flight attendants so far this year, nearly triple its previous record.

Southwest and other airlines are still racing to hire and train staff to cope with a rebound in travel demand, which executives expect to hold up this fall.

During the Covid pandemic, airlines were not allowed to lay off staff but were allowed to give employees extended leaves of absence or early retirement.

Southwest has more than 62,000 full-time equivalents. It had more than 60,800 at the end of last year.

At Southwest's corporate campus in Dallas, flight attendant candidates are interviewed, perform physical performance standards tests and other screenings with a chance for on-the-spot contingent job offers. Southwest said in an employee memo that there will be another one this week.

The attrition rate of new cabin crew members has dropped to 2.5% from 6.1%, as the carrier told staff.

Southwest flight attendants have been locked in contract negotiations. The talks are set to begin in Dallas.

Southwest and United Airlines flight attendants are going to picket at airports on Tuesday to demand better working conditions.