JetBlue dangles $1,000 attendance bonuses for flight attendants ahead of holiday rush

JetBlue Airways is offering its flight attendants $1,000 attendance bonuses for not calling out through early January, according to a company memo reviewed by CNBC, the latest effort by a carrier to avoid staffing crunches during the holidays. Airlines have been gearing up for a surge in travelers, many of whom skipped in-person celebrations last year as Covid cases were on the rise. The TSA this week said it expects to screen 20 million travelers from Friday through the end of Thanksgiving week on Nov. 28, close to pre-pandemic levels. But some airlines have been scrambling to ensure they have enough staff, rattled by disruptions. Southwest and American Airlines cancelled 2,000 flights apiece in less than one-week periods this fall. Some analysts have said the incentives could end up costing airlines less than a meltdown. JetBlue’s flight attendants can qualify for the $1,000 bonuses if they don’t call out from work from Nov. 22 through Jan. 5 and work at least 100 credit hours over that period if they are full time.<br/>