From Pilots to Ramp Agents: US Airlines Go All Out to Staff Up

From Pilots to Ramp Agents: US Airlines Go All Out to Staff Up
A Delta Connection Embraer ERJ-175LR plane lands as a United Express Embraer ERJ-175LR plane waits to take off at LAX airport in Los Angeles, on Jan. 10, 2018. Lucy Nicholson/Reuters
Reuters
Updated:

CHICAGO—From offering premium pay to hefty signing bonuses or poaching workers from other airlines, American carriers are scrambling to ramp up staffing for the holiday season and prevent disruptions that marred air travel this summer.

After reducing headcount by thousands during the depths of the pandemic, the industry is grappling with shortages of pilots, flight attendants, and customer service agents.