15 Jan 2004 17:38 GMT DJ US Air/Flight Attendants -2:Furloughs Were To Occur Thurs WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--US Airways Group Inc.'s (UAIR) flight attendants union said an arbitrator ruled the airline had improperly furloughed 552 flight attendants. On New Year's Eve, US Airways said it planned to lay off 552 flight attendants, mostly in Philadelphia, on Jan. 15. The union filed a federal lawsuit on Jan. 8 claiming the move was illegal. The next day, airline management agreed to expedited arbitration to resolve the issue before the furloughs became effective Thursday. In a press release Thursday, the Association of Flight Attendants, which represents 5,200 US Airways personnel, said the airline must first offer a voluntary furlough before flight attendants are involuntarily furloughed, according to the collective bargaining agreement. A US Airways spokesman wasn't immediately available for comment. The union said it believes the airline should allow at least 15 days for flight attendants to bid for the voluntary furloughs. If not enough flight attendants apply for a voluntary furlough, then the remaining furloughs will be made through the involuntary process, the union said. (MORE) Dow Jones Newswires Roger EWROPS