Hawaiian Airlines to recall laid-off workers

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaiian Airlines is recalling all 132 flight attendants who were furloughed as a result of the huge decline in air travel after the Sept. 11 attacks.

The flight attendants will be needed to staff four new nonstop flights from Honolulu and Maui to the Mainland that will begin in June, Hawaiian spokesman Keoni Wagner said last night.

With the recall, Hawaiian will have its full complement of nearly 700 flight attendants back at work.

The recall comes as Hawaiian prepares to compete with Aloha Airlines following a decision to scrap a planned merger of the two carriers.

After the announcement Sunday, Hawaiian said it had accelerated plans to launch direct flights between Honolulu and the California cities of Sacramento and Ontario in June. Those plans came just weeks after Hawaiian announced plans to start new nonstop service between Maui and San Francisco and Los Angeles.

"We're happy to be able to recall these employees and move forward with our growth plans," Wagner said.

Hawaiian laid off 430 employees in September, following a 20 percent reduction in flights. Yesterday's recall does not include furloughed pilots, mechanics or administrative staff, who make up roughly half of that 430, Wagner said.