=20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This article was sent to you by someone who found it on SF Gate. The original article can be found on SFGate.com here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/news/archive/2002/01/25/s= tate1057EST0044.DTL ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Friday, January 25, 2002 (AP) At least 75 America West pilots to return to work (01-25) 07:57 PST MESA, Ariz. (AP) -- America West Airlines will recall at least 75 of its 179 furloughed pilo= ts by March, an airline official said. Flights were pared down by about 20 percent as the airline tried to cut costs and bring up passenger loads after the Sept. 11 attacks. The pilots were included in a 2,000-person work force reduction by the airline in October. All employee groups were affected by the job cuts except airplane mechanics and reservation agents. America West restored about a third of its flights in December and plans to reinstate more flights starting February through April, airline officials told the East Valley Tribune on Thursday. "As demand for air travel continues to increase, we are responding by adding flights back to our schedule," said Jeff McClelland, executive vice president of operations. "To support this additional service to our customers, we're very happy to be returning these pilots to the America West team." America West's pilots union said it welcomed the news, but that 104 pilo= ts are still waiting to return to work. "It's bad news when anyone gets furloughed, so of course we won't be totally be happy until they're all back, but 75 is good," union spokesman Scott Sherrin told the Tribune. The carrier's unit of the national Air Line Pilots Association began paying for health insurance premiums for displaced workers in January as payments by the airline ceased. America West spokeswoman Patty Nowack said it was unclear exactly when other positions within the airline would be restored. Airline officials declined to say how much they expect demand to rise in the next month, but are happy so far with the rising number of advance bookings. "It is a good sign," Nowack said. "It's obviously good to be having our employees come back to work, and it's good for the airline to have business improve. I think it indicates a return of confidence in the airline industry." Meanwhile, at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, which is America West's No. 1 hub, airport traffic is still down anywhere from 10 percent to 15 percent, said airport spokeswoman Suzanne Luber. America West Holdings went up 4 cents to $3.80 following the news Thursday. Last week, America West received a $429 million loan secured by the U.S. government, ending the threat of a possible bankruptcy filing. The carrier is the only major U.S. airline to seek a loan guarantee under a federal plan approved after the attacks to provide airlines with $5 billion in cash aid and $10 billion in loan guarantees. On the Net: www.americawest.com =20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2002 AP