United Airlines To Furlough 16,000 Employees Due To COVID-19

The company received $5 billion in federal funds to avoid layoffs through Sept. 30.

a United Airlines commercial jet sits at a gate
In this July 18, 2018, file photo a United Airlines commercial jet sits at a gate at Terminal C of Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, N.J. United Airlines plans to furlough about 16,000 employees in October 2020 as air travel continues to be hammered by the pandemic. Julio Cortez / Associated Press
a United Airlines commercial jet sits at a gate
In this July 18, 2018, file photo a United Airlines commercial jet sits at a gate at Terminal C of Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, N.J. United Airlines plans to furlough about 16,000 employees in October 2020 as air travel continues to be hammered by the pandemic. Julio Cortez / Associated Press

United Airlines To Furlough 16,000 Employees Due To COVID-19

The company received $5 billion in federal funds to avoid layoffs through Sept. 30.

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Article: (Two sentences max) Chicago-based United Airlines is planning to furlough more than 16,000 employees in October. Reset takes a closer look at how COVID-19 is impacting the airline industry, and how the union that represents flight attendants is responding.

GUESTS: Doug Cameron, Wall Street Journal reporter and deputy bureau chief in Chicago

Ken Diaz, president of the United Airlines chapter of the Association of Flight Attendants