[US] Travel rebound means no October furlough for United flight attendants

Thanks to a travel rebound, United Airlines' flight attendants will not be furloughed when federal aid to protect US airline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic expires on October 1, Reuters reports.

The fate of US airline workers has undergone some dramatic changes in the three months since the industry won a third payroll support package in March. As an increasing number of Americans receive COVID-19 vaccines, travel demand has surged and driven the need for more workers.

In a memo, reviewed by Reuters, John Slater - United's senior vice president of inflight services - cited an "increase in customer demand and our current outlook for the future.”

Sara Nelson - president of AFA International - responded saying, "This announcement makes it clear: the Payroll Support Program (PSP) worked." AFA International represents nearly 50,000 flight attendants at 17 airlines, including United.

US airlines reportedly received a total of $54 billion in payroll aid which protected workers' jobs and salaries while they were sidelined by reduced flight schedules during the global pandemic. Now, as vaccination rates climb, airlines are adding flights, bringing back workers and in some cases planning to recruit again.

United is adding more than 480 daily flights back into its schedule in June alone.

"Given the current outlook for the future of United, we continue to move closer to full front line staffing levels to support our operation," a United spokesperson said.

Thanks to a travel rebound, United Airlines' flight attendants will not be furloughed when federal aid to protect US airline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic expires on October 1, Reuters reports.

The fate of US airline workers has undergone some dramatic changes in the three months since the industry won a third payroll support package in March. As an increasing number of Americans receive COVID-19 vaccines, travel demand has surged and driven the need for more workers.

In a memo, reviewed by Reuters, John Slater - United's senior vice president of inflight services - cited an "increase in customer demand and our current outlook for the future.”

Sara Nelson - president of AFA International - responded saying, "This announcement makes it clear: the Payroll Support Program (PSP) worked." AFA International represents nearly 50,000 flight attendants at 17 airlines, including United.

US airlines reportedly received a total of $54 billion in payroll aid which protected workers' jobs and salaries while they were sidelined by reduced flight schedules during the global pandemic. Now, as vaccination rates climb, airlines are adding flights, bringing back workers and in some cases planning to recruit again.

United is adding more than 480 daily flights back into its schedule in June alone.

"Given the current outlook for the future of United, we continue to move closer to full front line staffing levels to support our operation," a United spokesperson said.