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Southwest announced that the company will offer buyouts and the option for an extended leave to employees in an attempt to reduce overstaffing. Southwest is extending the offer to eighteen airports around the United States, but has not announced the specific airports that will be affected. The company stated that it is facing a shortage of new planes due to the Boeing strike, and the voluntary layoffs are in direct response to this issue. The airline expected to receive 85 new aircrafts after a major incident with the Boeing 737 Max earlier this year, but this number has been reduced to 20. The offer will be presented to Southwest employees working in ground operations, including workers in baggage handling, cargo, and customer service. Southwest expects to reduce headcount by two thousand ground operation workers, but the buyouts do not apply to Southwest flight attendants and pilots.