United expects 14,000 furloughs after federal aid expiry

US carrier United Airlines has reportedly notified its workers about a potential furlough once federal aid expires in April.

The latest announcement is part of the company’s measures to help recover from the impact of coronavirus pandemic.

Approximately 14,000 staff members have been notified, reported Reuters.

United said: “Despite ongoing efforts to distribute vaccines, customer demand has not changed much since we recalled those employees.

“When the recalls began, United said most recalled employees would return to their previous status as a result of the fall furloughs around 1 April.

“As such, recalled employees in states where WARN may be triggered are receiving notice about this today.”

In September last year, American Airlines and United Airlines began furloughing more than 32,000 employees after talks for a national coronavirus aid package failed in Washington, US.

Last month, United and American Airlines started recalling thousands of employees they furloughed after Congress approved $900bn coronavirus relief package last year for the industry.

The aid required airlines to call back furloughed workers and maintain payrolls until 31 March.

Apart from United, Hawaiian Airlines also sent furlough notices to staff that it could lay off approximately 900 workers.

Meanwhile, AFA president Sara Nelson and Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) president Julie Hedrick have written a letter to Congress.

The letter said: “Without immediate action on this, essential workers will again be pushed into incredible uncertainty with job loss and cost-cutting on the job that airlines will initiate in the coming days.”