11,000 Delta Works Opt to Leave

[dbaker]

11,000 Delta Workers Opt to Leave

ATLANTA (AP) -- About 11,000 Delta Air Lines employees have decided to leave the company through early retirement or voluntary leave programs, meaning the company will lay off only 2,000 people, company executives said Wednesday.

The nation's third-largest airline is eliminating 13,000 jobs as part of a broader effort to reduce its operations because of dramatically less traffic after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

About 4,200 employees chose to retire early, many lured by a company offer to add five years to their service records for better pension benefits, said Mark Baxter, a Delta human resources general manager. Delta also will pay their health insurance premiums.

[dbaker]

11,000 Delta Workers Opt to Leave

ATLANTA (AP) -- About 11,000 Delta Air Lines employees have decided to leave the company through early retirement or voluntary leave programs, meaning the company will lay off only 2,000 people, company executives said Wednesday.

The nation's third-largest airline is eliminating 13,000 jobs as part of a broader effort to reduce its operations because of dramatically less traffic after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

About 4,200 employees chose to retire early, many lured by a company offer to add five years to their service records for better pension benefits, said Mark Baxter, a Delta human resources general manager. Delta also will pay their health insurance premiums.