United can’t project a recovery since the downturn is tied to coronavirus. They anticipate that there may be serious problems until the vaccine is available and flight schedules can return to normal.
Furlough warnings to United employees
“There are really only two ways to mitigate the full impact of furloughs. The first is another stimulus bill,” United Airlines’ head of flight operations, Bryan Quigley, said in the memo.
The airline’s plans to furlough 2,250 pilots starting October 1 and 1,650 in 2021, may shift depending on their ability to return to normal operations.
On Friday, United announced that it plans to resume service on almost 30 international routes starting in September.
“We continue to be realistic in our approach to building back our international and domestic schedules by closely monitoring customer demand and flying where people want to go,” said Patrick Quayle, United’s VP of International Network and Alliances. “In September, we’re adding even more options for leisure travelers or those who want to visit friends and relatives, whether that’s within the United States or around the world.”
