COVID-19: United Airlines to lay off 16,000 workers

United Airlines said Wednesday it plans to lay off up to 16,000 workers amid a prolonged industry downturn due to the coronavirus and the continuing stalemate in Washington over further federal support for the industry.

The big US carrier, which had previously said as many as 36,000 workers could be terminated, said early retirement and other programs had lessened the need for even deeper job cuts, but the “devastating” impact of Covid-19 on airline travel still required layoffs.

But even with voluntary programs and other cost-cutting, the savings “have not been enough to avoid involuntary furloughs entirely,” the company said.

“Today, each of our operations leaders communicated directly with their teams to share the heart-wrenching news that approximately 16,000 United employees will be notified of an involuntary furlough effective as early as October 1.”

The announcement comes on the heels layoff warnings from American Airlines and Delta Air Lines.

Unions representing flight attendants, pilots and other airline workers are holding rallies and engaging in letter-writing campaigns to prod Congress to roll out another round of support that would avert layoffs.

So far, progress on the package has been stymied by partisan gridlock in Washington.

“Flight attendants are resilient in the face of adversity, 1st responders. Pilots spend years training to acquire skills & knowledge to fly the public safety,” the Association of Flight Attendants tweeted late Tuesday.

“Inaction by Congress will now send us to the unemployment line.”

-Punch