The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting that 2,100 Delta Air Lines employees have volunteered to take buyouts as the carrier seeks to reduce its work force. The 'voluntary programs to adjust staffing' -- including early retirements and severance -- were announced by Delta in December in conjunction with its planned capacity reduction. Last month, Delta said it was seeking to eliminate about 2,000 jobs, or about 2.7 percent of its workforce. Workers with at least 10 years of service whose age and seniority add up to at least 55 were offered a severance package that would include two weeks of pay for each year of service, plus travel privileges and health insurance for a specified period.
In a message to employees, Delta CEO Richard Anderson said, "Passengers, our customers, are not buying tickets at rates they were buying tickets a year ago. Obviously, we wish we didn't have to decrease our capacity, but we cannot fly our airplanes around at low load factors."
