CHICAGO, Ill. – United Airlines plans to furlough about 16,000 employees in October as air travel continues to be hammered by the coronavirus pandemic.
Still, that’s fewer furloughs than the Chicago-based company predicted in July, when it warned 36,000 employees that they could lose their jobs.
The number of furloughs is being reduced because thousands of United employees have taken early retirement, buyouts, or long-term leaves of absence.
The furloughs would be postponed if Washington approves billions more in payroll aid to the nation’s airlines.
United already got $5 billion, and that money came with a prohibition on furloughs or layoffs until Oct. 1.