US Airways said Friday it will recall furloughed pilots for the first time since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks devastated the airline industry.
US Airways, Charlotte's dominant carrier and a major local employer, will recall about 55 pilots, trimming from the current list of about 1,570.
The pilots will help fly three newly acquired Boeing 757 jets. The airline has also been recalling furloughed flight attendants: About 40 percent of 180 flight attendants scheduled for training this spring are ex-US Airways workers.
"These employees have demonstrated incredible patience and dedication during their time away from us, and we're thrilled to welcome them back to the new US Airways," said US Airways Chief Executive Doug Parker.
The announcement caps a busy week for US Airways.
It said Thursday that it will buy bigger regional jets than originally negotiated from Embraer. The airline said it will receive Embraer 190 jets instead of the smaller 170s. The new jets will be fitted with 11 first-class seats and 88 coach.
Earlier Thursday, the airline said it was adding several European destinations from its Philadelphia hub in May and June: Lisbon, Portugal; Milan, Italy; and Stockholm, Sweden.
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