Sitel announces plans for fair to fill 300 jobs

Sitel said Monday that it plans to hire about 300 people at its Augusta facility.

The company will hold a job fair from 4 to 7 p.m. Sept. 8 at its facility at 2115 Windsor Spring Road, according to a news release.

The company currently employs more than 400 people in Augusta.

An off-site job fair will be held at Fort Gordon later this month.

The open positions include customer service representatives, trainers and management staff, the release said.

Job seekers also may apply at www.sitel.com.

Fairfield Inn now open on Gordon Highway

Fairfield Inn & Suites opened Monday at 2175 Gordon Highway.

Construction started in November on the 82-bed hotel in front of the Holiday Inn near Fort Gordon. Pennsylvania-based Shaner Hotels owns both hotels.

Southwest seeks time to fix parts problem

DALLAS — Southwest Airlines Co., facing a deadline of to day for settling a dispute with regulators over the use of unapproved parts, said Monday that the parts were installed on almost twice as many planes as it first believed.

The airline also has suspended the maintenance firm that got the parts from a subcontractor.

Southwest said Monday that it has replaced the unapproved parts in more than 25 planes but needs more time to find parts for the remaining jets and an extension to avoid a disruption in its service to its customers.

Without an extension, the Federal Aviation Administration could force the airline to ground some planes.

Boeing official to step down in wake of woes

CHICAGO — Boeing Co. said Monday that Scott Carson will step down as head of the company's commercial airplane division and retire at the end of the year.

The Chicago-based company said Mr. Carson will be succeeded to day by the head of its defense business, Jim Albaugh.

Boeing's commercial aircraft operation has struggled with sharply lower orders amid the global economic downturn, which has hurt demand for air travel and cargo services. It also has grappled with problems arising from its new 787, a next-generation aircraft that has been delayed five times.

Walmart online store adds outside choices

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has launched an addition to its online business that has outside retailers selling nearly 1 million new items through Walmart.com, a move that could help the world's largest retailer catch up in the online world.

The Walmart Marketplace has products from categories that include home, baby, toys, apparel, sporting goods and sports memorabilia.