The government money they just got doesn't really go to the corporation's pockets. It goes to employee payroll. If UA didn't get it, they would have just kept people on furlough / layoff status instead of recalling them and retro-paying them from December 1.

That is why Kirby is already saying people can expect people to be re-laid-off after March 31 when that funding ends, unless it is extended again. No real difference to UA; they either get the money to recall employees and pay them, or they don't get it and keep them laid off.

Corporate malfeasance or kowtowing to the investor class rather than re-investing in the company, its people, etc. are likely more appropriate terms. They knew what they were doing didn't balance more stakeholders' interests.

United Airlines warns thousands of employees that their jobs are again at risk, labor unions seek more government aid
Seem to be an announcement that should not be a surprise

I do know the Q4 earnings reports from airlines were pretty rough -- but at the same time, with the vaccine distribution now moving forward at a decent clip, I wonder how much political will there will be for another round of aid...

I'm sure a lot. Hopefully, any more covid relief is directed to the people instead of subsidizing workforces that are too big for the current market.

Sorry - I should've specified aid for large businesses and enterprises.

Subsidies for workforces that are too big would just shift to unemployment subsidies if those people were let go. At the time of the original Covid relief legislation, no one could have predicted how long it would last. If you told me in 1st quarter of last year that travel would be as impacted as it is now, I probably wouldn't have believed you. One does not want to cut to the bone and then find yourself short-handed when things rebound.

Let's not go OMNI, there is plenty of discussion in the OMNI forum on the status / breath of future COVID aid packages --- let's continue that discussion there and stay focus on what UA is doing here.


WineCountryUA
UA coModerator

No, but we shouldn’t pick who survives or not this unfortunate situation. That’s my issue with airline handouts during this pandemic. Other businesses have not been nearly as fortunate. It’s also why we have unemployment.

Looks like the latest $1.9 T stimulus has $14 B earmarked for airline employee retentions.

There are some special situations regarding the US airline industry, though. I think most would say the government wouldn't allow a merger between any two of UA, AA, or DL... plus throw in WN for good measure. Allowing one or more to fail, however, would cause the same result.

Specific to UA, they are going to need the pilots which they are trying to keep employed through this government support program. In fact, I heard there even might be a need to start hiring more before the end of the year.

Curious where you heard they might need to hire more pilots this year. Seems absurd to me on the surface but maybe there is a valid reason.

Was mentioned to me by a UA pilot. They would need to start hiring this year for needs next year.

It all depends on the projected schedule for the summer of 2022. If more pilots will be needed for the summer 2022 then pilot hiring would need to start in the second half of 2021 to allow time for the required new-hire, initial, transition, and upgrade training.

The first step in that process would be interviewing. Interviewing is relatively inexpensive so they could proceed with interviewing well before the summer 2022 schedule is known. That would put them in a position to be ready to hire and train if, later on, they decide to staff for a strong summer 2022 schedule.

I have no predictions on hiring or the state of the summer 2022 schedule. The first indication could be whether or not there is any pilot interviewing in late Spring and Summer of this year.

During an open community update to United's Aviate program, the employees presenting (pilots) anticipated hiring later this year.