By Bill Zeeble, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-896274.mp3
Dallas, TX – Southwest Airlines, headquartered here in Dallas, says it will not hire any new workers for the rest of year as it moves through tough economic times. KERA's Bill Zeeble explains.
In a morning TV news show, Southwest CEO Gary Kelly said the often- aggressive low-fare airline will cut personnel through attrition, and will not add any new people through 2010.
Brad Hawkins, with the carrier, said it's a policy that's actually been in place for nearly 2 years now, and Southwest expects to see the typical 5 percent attrition rate.
Hawkins: We're a very aggressive competitor but we've been very surgical about the risks that we've been taking.. this is a measured long term strategy to surviving and surviving and thriving past this economic downturn.
Hawkins said Southwest will still grow, & will add a new Florida market in May. But growth will be judicious.