Southwest Airlines had a rough year, with operations collapsing and millions of dollars in losses, and it's doing everything it can to keep its operation running smoothly through the holidays.
Dallas-based Southwest is calling on non-operational employees, like corporate workers, to help out at airports during the busy Christmas and New Year travel periods, the Dallas Morning News first reported and the airline confirmed to Insider.
In a letter sent to employees, the company asked for volunteers to work eight-hour shifts between December 20 and January 3 doing simple customer service tasks, like answering questions and pushing wheelchairs.
The airports in need are Baltimore-Washington, Ronald Reagan in Washington, DC, Atlanta, Chicago-Midway, Dallas Love Field, Phoenix Sky Harbor, Oakland and Sacramento in California, St. Louis, and New York.
"We are expecting a very busy holiday season, but we also want to do everything in our power to set our front-line employees up for success, especially in locations where staffing is a challenge," the company said in a letter to some employees.
The bonuses offered to pilots and flight attendants to show up to their shifts this season include up to 120,000 Rapid Reward points for those who work between November 15 and January 14. The points are worth more than $1,400 according to CNBC.
In June, American Airlines asked non-union employees in Dallas to volunteer to work six-hour shifts at its airports for free.
Southwest experienced a dramatic operational meltdown in October due to a lack of staff, and is no stranger to the labor shortages that have plagued the airline industry this year. The chaos resulted in over 3000 flight cancelations and $75 million in losses.
Mike Van de Van, the company's chief operating officer, explained in a video to employees that a staff cushion is needed to better prepare for disruptions and prevent schedule reductions. The airline wants to hire 5,000 workers this year and 8,000 more in the years to come.
