AirTran Airways plans to hire 159 pilots and 135 flight attendants this year as it resumes growth. About 20 newly hired pilots have already finished training, AirTran said. Most of AirTran's pilots are based in Atlanta, its main hub. The airline plans to increase its flight capacity by 3 percent to 4 percent this year. Next year, it plans to add seven Boeing 737 jets to its fleet. AirTran, which no longer has employees on furlough, hired flight attendants last year but hasn't hired pilots in several years. The pilots and flight attendants coming aboard will help AirTran address some problems in its operations, the company said. Over Easter weekend, AirTran said it canceled some of flights due to the combination of staffing shortages, heavy holiday traffic and the start of a new crew schedule. Along with the pilots and flight attendants, AirTran expects to continue to hire ground workers and gate agents. 'We're in a very good position to be able to grow,' said AirTran spokesman Christopher White. Jim Morris, a spokesman for the Air Line Pilots Association at AirTran, said 'it's great' the company is adding employees. 'We also believe that this would be impossible if it had not been for the contribution of the existing pilot group,' he said, as the union continues years-long negotiations with the company over a contract. 'We think it's time for the company to finally finish this deal.' The union begins a strike authorization vote Monday, which does not mean a strike is planned but is aimed at sending a message to management. It plans to fly a banner over Atlanta next Tuesday with a message about the pilots' negotiations. Kelly Yamanouchi writes for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. E-mail: Kelly.Yamanouchi@ajc.com. 