Southwest Airlines recently announced staff cuts across the country. All told, the company plans to have 2,000 fewer workers by the end of this year.

Southwest Airlines announced Monday, Nov. 11, it plans to reduce staff at airports across the country, including Portland International Airport.

The reductions will come in the form of buyouts and extended time off to customer services staff, baggage handlers, cargo workers and other employees at 18 airports across the country, and at its headquarters in Texas.

All told, the company plans to have 2,000 fewer workers by the end of this year.

The buyouts are aimed at addressing what the airline calls “overstaffing in certain locations,” due to a shortage of new planes from manufacturer Boeing. Southwest had planned on receiving more than 80 new 737 jets from Boeing, but production at Boeing’s factories have slowed considerably after an incident in January at PDX, when a door panel from a Boeing jet blew out during takeoff.

The buyouts are part of a larger attempt to cut costs at the airline. To save money, Southwest has stopped flying to some airports, including Bellingham International Airport in Washington, and limited hiring where possible.

Amid those changes comes hedge fund Elliott Investment Management, which claimed an 11% stake in the company in June, including several seats on its board of directors. Elliott is pushing Southwest to increase profits and boost its stock price, which has fallen considerably since 2021.

Portland is the only aiport in the Pacific Northwest impacted by the buyouts. Other impacted airports include:

• Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
• Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF)
• Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR)
• Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
• Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
• Corpus Christi International Airport (CRP)
• Dallas Love Field (DAL)
• Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
• Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
• Long Beach Airport (LGB)
• Miami International Airport (MIA)
• Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR)
• Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW)
• San José Mineta International Airport (SJC)
• John Wayne Airport (SNA)
• Tampa International Airport (TPA)