United Airlines

United Airlines to Close Most of Its Foreign Crew Bases

United Airlines to Close Most of Its Foreign Crew Bases

United Airlines said it plans to close three of four flight attendant bases outside the United States amidst the plummet in travel demand due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The airline made the announcement in a memorandum to crewmembers that was shown to Frequent Business Traveler.
United will close its bases in Frankfurt, Hong Kong, and Tokyo effective October 1.  The London base will remain open, according John Slater, who authored the memo.
The …

U.S. Airlines Struggle as Airports Become Parking Lots

In early May, Warren Buffett divested all of his investment firm’s holdings in the four major U.S. airlines, warning that the “world has changed” for the aviation industry due to the coronavirus crisis.  In mid May, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun said he saw a bumpy road ahead for the airline industry and predicted that a major carrier would not survive 2020 as a result.
It appears Buffett and Calhoun were on …

Great Moments in Travel History – June 2020

Great Moments in Travel History – June 2020

June, the month with the most daylight hours in the Northern Hemisphere, is the sixth month of the year, and is equivalent to December in the Southern Hemisphere. The start of meteorological summer, June derives its name from the Latin name for the Junius, which in turn comes from the ancient Roman goddess Juno, wife of Saturn and protector and special counselor of the state.
The month of June includes the …

American, United Plan Executive Cuts Amidst ‘Tough Times’

American, United Plan Executive Cuts Amidst ‘Tough Times’

American Airlines and United Airlines – the two largest carriers in the United States by fleet size – announced significant cuts to their respective managerial ranks as demand for travel hovers close to zero as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
United said Friday it would cut 13 of its 67 senior-level executive positions in the company.  The airline’s new CEO, Scott Kirby, said in a memorandum to employees last week …

United Airlines Shuffles Management Team, Warns of ‘Tough Times Ahead’

United Airlines Shuffles Management Team, Warns of ‘Tough Times Ahead’

United Airlines announced multiple executive appointments including that of COO Greg Hart to lead efforts on the airline’s recovery from the effects of the novel coronavirus pandemic, saying there were “tough times ahead.”
The airline’s new CEO, Scott Kirby, announced the changes in a memorandum to all employees and said Mr. Hart would address “the short-term adjustments that we have to make to get through the crisis as well as the …

United Airlines is Making Face Masks from Old Crew Uniforms

United Airlines is Making Face Masks from Old Crew Uniforms

United Airlines said it has upcycled old employee uniforms into 7,500 face coverings that were distributed to the airline’s employees at San Francisco International Airport and at the airline’s San Francisco Maintenance Base.
The 7,500 masks took 12,284 pounds of uniforms to make, working with Looptworks, an upcycling company. The airline said it had originally planned to turn the uniforms into carpet padding and insulation fiber.
“Recycling these unused uniforms into masks …

DOT to Allow U.S. Airlines to Temporarily Suspend Service to 75 Airports

DOT to Allow U.S. Airlines to Temporarily Suspend Service to 75 Airports

The U.S. Department of Transportation said it would allow 15 U.S. airlines to temporarily halt service to 75 airports amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
United Airlines and Delta Air Lines were granted tentative approval to halt flights to 11 airports each, while JetBlue Airways, Alaska Airlines, and Frontier Airlines won approval to temporarily end service to five airports each.
In announcing the approval, the department said that, despite the temporary halts in service, …