Continental Airlines in the US is beginning to welcome back 132 pilots who were furloughed in 2008.

The airline company has said it now needs them to offset retirements and handle the increase in international flying over the next 18 months.

Continental’s traffic is running about 3 percent higher than a year ago and revenue is surging due to higher fares and fees on many services.

The furloughed group to be recalled by Continental is expected to start retraining in the last three months of the year.