Why Southwest is offering buyouts to its airport workers

The airline says the offers of “voluntary separation” concern 18 airports. 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.The move on Monday comes as a hedge fund presses Southwest to increase profits and boost the stock price, which has fallen sharply since early 2021.A Southwest spokesperson said the offers of “voluntary...