Bookings are plummeting and cancellations soaring as the virus continues to spread and claim more lives. United said Sunday night it expects planes to be only 20% to 30% full at best, down from nearly 90% before the virus hit.
The airline handled a million fewer passengers in the first two weeks of March than it did a year ago, and it expects March revenue to fall
“The bad news is that it's getting worse,” they wrote. “We expect both the number of customers and revenue to decline sharply in the days and weeks ahead.”
United's management is talking to pilot and flight attendant unions about taking cuts in pay or hours.
Munoz said he has spent two days in
United and other airlines have already cut back passenger-carrying capacity.
American did not announce layoffs but plans to ground about 135 planes.
American will keep flying three international routes: Daily flights from
Appearing on
Mnuchin indicated that one of the next steps for the federal government is to provide assistance to travel-related industries.
RETAILERS CUTTING BACK: A growing list of retailers are closing stores or limiting their operating hours as customers remain home in an effort to slow the spread of the virus outbreak.
Beginning Sunday, more than 4,700
“I don’t think any of us have been through an experience like this, and we continue to be amazed at what people, whether in the stores or in the supply chain, are doing to make sure customers have what they need,” Dacona Smith, chief operating officer, said in a statement.
Other retailers are following Apple and closing their stores, including
“This is a critical moment in the world,”
INFECTED EMPLOYEES: Supermarket chain
The company also said it has enacted an emergency leave policy that allows for paid time off for workers diagnosed with the coronavirus and those placed under a mandatory quarantine by a doctor or public health authority.
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