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.

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

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.

DALLAS — Dallas-based Southwest Airlines is offering buyouts at 18 airports across the country, reports say, amid “aircraft delivery delays" from Boeing. Employees impacted include airport ground workers, customer service agents, ramp and operations agents, cargo employees and more. The carrier’s Dallas headquarters is among the airports affected.

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

Southwest Airlines will offer buyouts to workers at 18 airports across the country as the Dallas-based carrier cuts back on flying planes due to

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

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

Southwest officials have said that the Dallas-based airline plans to end this year with 2,000 fewer workers than it started. That is after Southwest grew from 66,600 to nearly 75,000 employees last year.