United recalling 1,300 workers

CHICAGO - In another sign of the airline industry&#39;s modest recovery, United Airlines said Friday it is recalling another 1,300 employees who were laid off last fall and hiring an additional 900 in key markets. <br> <br> The ramp, customer and cabin service employees are being recalled at United&#39;s five hubs--Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington-Dulles--to help the carrier meet its expanded summer schedule. <br> <br> ``To support the increased operation, we have already begun to recall employees who were placed on furlough status last fall,&#39;&#39; said Patti Carson, a United vice president. ``While we still have a long road ahead of us, United is very happy to recall more than a thousand of our employees.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> United announced earlier this month that it is adding 170 daily flights to its summer schedule, effective June 7. That would restore the Elk Grove Village, Ill.-based airline&#39;s schedule to almost 1,900 daily flights in June, compared with 2,400 before the attacks. <br> <br> ``United&#39;s capacity will still be about 17 percent below where it was at this time last year, so the company will only be able to recall employees in certain markets,&#39;&#39; Carson said. <br> <br> After the September attacks, United slashed capacity by 23 percent and laid off 20,000 employees. The carrier already has recalled hundreds of those workers--customer-contact employees, ramp workers, mechanics and flight attendants. <br> <br> The newly recalled employees will return to work by the end of May, with new hires being added during the first week of June. <br> <br> United shares rose 45 cents to $15.59 in midday trading on the New York Stock Exchange. <br>

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