United Airlines, the second largest airline in the United States, announced today that it will lay off more than 16,000 employees on October 1st as the coronavirus pandemic impacts its business and no financial aid is in the offing, Reuters reports.
With 90,000 employees prior to the coronavirus reaching American shores, United announced in July that it might have to layoff 36,000 employees, 40% of its workforce. The number was reduced due to voluntary separations and temporary leaves.
United has also cut nearly two-thirds of its flights due to lack of business.
Airlines received $25 billion in coronavirus relief money in the first aid package passed by the federal government, but those funds have run out. In its aid package passed in May, House Democrats provided nearly $30 billion to assist airlines and other parts of the nation’s transportation infrastructure. The proposed republican bill presented in the Senate only provided $10 billion to help local airport authorities.
The United announcements comes one week after American Airlines announced a planned layoff of 18,000 employees.