Southwest Airlines Co. Tuesday offered buyouts to more than a quarter of its workforce, a move that officials expect will help the carrier remain profitable as it grapples with its two largest costs: labor and fuel. The airline employs more than 33,200 people. It's approaching those with more than a decade of service, about 8,700 workers, but workers and observers expect that Southwest will replace each person who leaves with someone earning less money. Southwest has offered buyouts once in its 36-year history, in 2004. Known for its fun and productive working culture, Southwest reported that it received 85 times as many resumes as it had openings last year.
See "Southwest offers buyouts to workers", Meredith Cohn, San Francisco Chronicle, July 17, 2007