KEY POINTS
  • United and Delta say they will not furlough or cut the pay of U.S. workers through Sept. 30, as outlined in a government aid package.
  • A bill allows U.S. airlines to access $25 billion in aid so they continue paying workers through that date. They also have access to $25 billion in loans.
  • Airlines expect the demand slump to last months, if not years, pointing to a slow economic recovery from coronavirus.
United Airlines planes at Newark Liberty International Airport

United Airlines on Friday warned that it expects a lengthy slump in travel demand because of the coronavirus, which will likely require the carrier to have a smaller workforce, while Delta asked for more volunteers to take unpaid leave after close to a quarter of the carrier's employees raised their hands.

The comments came after President Donald Trump signed a $2 trillion government coronavirus relief package that included billions in grants for airlines to keep paying workers through the end of September.