United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
United warns Covid stimulus job recalls only temporary
As United Airlines prepares to recall thousands of furloughed workers, it is warning them it is likely only for a temporary period.
With the new $900 billion Covid relief package agreed in principle, airlines will get $15 billion for Payroll Support Program costs through March 2021.
"It is certainly good news for our economy, our industry, and our airline," United said but ‘we don’t expect customer demand to change much between now and the end of the first quarter of 2021.’
CEO Scott Kirby and President Brett Hart cautioned against too much optimism that the worker recalls will be permanent.
"There are still some details to work out before the PSP extension is finalized, and we expect that you will hear from your leaders over the next several days," they said.
"The truth is, we just don’t see anything in the data that shows a huge difference in bookings over the next few months."
United and American Airlines could recall as many as 32,000 workers impacted since October 2020 when the previous Covid relief aid expired.
"We are already starting to work through the details of how we will bring back team members, but we’re not over the finish line yet," American CEO Doug Parker and President Robert Isom said in a memo.
The relief package itself is a temporary measure due to the change at the White House to a Biden Administration.
Written by Ray Montgomery, US Editor
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Mark Jaronski of Explore Georgia on FIFA World Cup 2026
Connecting Small Businesses to Global Tourism Markets: Nate Huff of Tourism Exchange
North Carolina’s Resilience: Wit Tuttell on Recovery and Tourism
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
BA suspending all Heathrow to Abu Dhabi flights
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Woman dies after going overboard in English Channel
Foreign Office issues travel advisory for winter sun destinations