Southwest Airlines is offering buyouts and extended leaves of absence to airport workers to avoid “overstaffing” which it blames on Boeing.

Southwest Airlines on Monday announced buyouts to reduce staffing at some locations, but the buyouts aren't offered in Houston.

A Southwest spokesperson told KOIN 6 that two of its Portland workgroups are eligible for what the airline is describing as a “voluntary separation program.” These employees work within the Ground Operations department, which includes customer service agents, operations agents and ramp agents.

Southwest Airlines will offer options for “voluntary separation” and extended leaves of absence to airport staff in 18 cities across the US.

The offers will be extended to customer service, ramp and operations agents, as well as cargo employees and supervisors.

Southwest Airlines Co. will offer voluntary departure packages or extended leaves to airport workers in 18 cities, including Los Angeles and Atlanta, as aircraft delivery delays force the carrier to trim its flying plans.

Southwest Airlines is offering buyouts and extended leaves of absence to airport workers to avoid what it calls “overstaffing in certain locations.”

The embattled carrier will lay off airport workers in several locations as it cuts flights due to a shortage for Boeing 737 aircraft.

Southwest Airlines Co. expects the strike by Boeing Co. workers and a lengthy push to boost production to once again limit the number of aircraft it receives next year.

The slow delivery of planes from Boeing is forcing Southwest Airlines to offer buyouts to some of its employees.

Southwest Airlines is offering buyouts and extended leaves of absence to airport workers to avoid what it calls “overstaffing in certain locations," which it blames on a shortage of new planes from Boeing.