US Airways ends voluntary furlough program = = = = Wednesday December 31, 4:04 PM EST = (Details on furlough program, identifies union) WASHINGTON, Dec 31 (Reuters) - US Airways (UAIR) has ended its voluntary = furlough program for flight attendants and cut 200 employees to help clea= r space for more senior attendants returning to work, the company and uni= on officials said on Wednesday. The airline also reclassified the furlough status of an additional 352 fl= ight attendants from voluntary to involuntary, diminishing their chances = of returning to their jobs. Most of those affected by the changes are based in Washington and Philade= lphia, with others in Boston, Charlotte, North Carolina, and New York, th= e company and the Association of Flight Attendants said. US Airways said the changes were needed to absorb returning workers and k= eep the flight attendant count at about 5,400. = The current round of voluntary furloughs took effect as the company cut s= ervice while spiraling toward bankruptcy in 2002. The program would be re= vived if US Airways, the No. 7 carrier, decides to cut more flights in th= e future. Voluntary furloughs generally are offered to more senior flight attendant= s to preserve jobs for junior workers. Most of the furloughs are temporar= y while others are open-ended. US Airways emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last March but h= as been struggling to compete with other airlines and to lower costs. = =A92003 Reuters Limited. = Roger EWROPS