Delta Air Lines recalls pilots, plans layoffs

ATLANTA (AP) -- Delta Air Lines is recalling 250 pilots furloughed during the war in Iraq and has scaled back plans to lay off 1,050 flight attendants.
The airline said it would let 700 flight attendants go on Monday.
As many as 45 of the pilots could return to work Oct. 1.
Joe Kolshak, senior vice president of flight operations, said in a memo to pilots this week that 168 mostly senior pilots flying Boeing 777s and 767s have submitted plans for early retirement Sept. 1.
Delta spokesman John Kennedy wouldn't comment on whether the retirements and the recall of furloughed pilots were linked. Kennedy cited an expected rebound in travel demand.
More than 1,000 pilots had been furloughed before the war began as the result of cutbacks following the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.
The Air Line Pilots Association filed a grievance over the 250 additional layoffs in April, saying they occurred well after the direct effects of the war.