United Airlines said on Monday that it had reached a deal with the flight attendants’ union to offer up to $100,000 (£61,709) in severance for departing workers.

United spokeswoman Megan McCarthy said the US airline hoped that at least 2,100 of its 23,000 flight attendants would accept, allowing it to recall about 1,450 lower-paid laid-off attendants to fill vacant jobs.

The company, which was formed by a 2010 merger, has seen growth in what used to be Continental Airlines, which hired 485 flight attendants last year. 

But the old United operation has been shrinking and laying off staff. 

United Continental Holdings did not say how much the severance payments would cost. Last year, the company spent about $64 million (£36.56m) on redundancy payments to 1,200 ground crew and pilots.

United announced last year that it planned to cut spending by $2 billion (£1.23bn) per year to boost earnings.