Job losses at US airlines have picked up since 2008 because the recession forced carriers to cut thousands of jobs here and ship more overseas. The industry has lost 54,000 jobs, or 16 percent of its workforce, in the last two years.
Faced first with soaring fuel costs and then a slump in travel demand between 2007 and 2009, airlines dropped routes that were not profitable. For passengers, there are fewer flights to choose from, so planes are more full. Diminishing staff and fuller flights add to the stress among flight attendants, pilots, and other workers.
The April-June period was financially the best for US airlines in three years, as the combination of fewer seats and more travelers allows them to raise fares.
So far, they have resisted the temptation to boost their fleets at the first hints of improving demand. That is good for the airlines’ bottom lines, but also evidence that hiring will continue to be slow-going. Instead of hiring, US airlines are building up cash reserves and looking for more than one quarter of profits before they boost their ranks.
