Southwest Airlines is offering buyouts and extended leaves of absence to airport workers to avoid “overstaffing” which it blames on Boeing.

Southwest Airlines on Monday announced buyouts to reduce staffing at some locations, but the buyouts aren't offered in Houston.

The offers will be extended to customer service, ramp and operations agents, as well as cargo employees and supervisors.

Southwest Airlines will offer options for “voluntary separation” and extended leaves of absence to airport staff in 18 cities across the US.

Southwest Airlines Co. will offer voluntary departure packages or extended leaves to airport workers in 18 cities, including Los Angeles and Atlanta, as aircraft delivery delays force the carrier to trim its flying plans.

Southwest Airlines is offering buyouts and extended leaves of absence to airport workers to avoid what it calls “overstaffing in certain locations.”

One source within the airline industry shared a memo that included the airports that are part of the buyout and it includes ramp agents at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Southwest later confirmed to Crain's that Cleveland was included in the offer.

Southwest Airlines Co. expects the strike by Boeing Co. workers and a lengthy push to boost production to once again limit the number of aircraft it receives next year.

The embattled carrier will lay off airport workers in several locations as it cuts flights due to a shortage for Boeing 737 aircraft.

The slow delivery of planes from Boeing is forcing Southwest Airlines to offer buyouts to some of its employees.

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.