American Airlines to recall 600 flight attendants

ST. LOUIS -- American Airlines is recalling about 600 flight attendants on furlough, effective Nov. 17, in part due to a projected increase in international flights in December.

''That means we'll need about 300 more flight attendants over our planned levels," said Tim Wagner, a spokesman for Fort Worth, Texas-based AMR Corp., American's corporate parent.

''In addition, we've had a little bit more than planned attrition of flight attendants who are retiring."

The recalled attendants will be based at Lambert Airport in St. Louis as well as in Boston, New York, and Washington, D.C., Wagner said. But the recall will involve few, if any, flight attendants who originally worked for St. Louis-based Trans World Airlines.

American purchased long-struggling TWA in 2001, just months before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Since the attacks, the airline has cut about 30,000 jobs. AMR Corp. still has about 101,000 workers. Because the former TWA workers went to the bottom of the seniority lists, many of them remain on furlough.

Wagner said the airline continues struggling due to recent hurricanes and continued high fuel prices, despite having posted a profit in the second quarter.

Wall Street analysts expect the company to lose about $270 million in the third quarter, which ends tomorrow.