United Airlines Holdings Inc. will slash international flights by 85% in April, the most among major U.S. carriers, as the coronavirus outbreak kills demand for air travel.
The carrier will also reduce flights across the U.S. and Canada by 42%, and is monitoring changes in local rules and government restrictions before further adjusting its schedule, it said in a statement late Tuesday. The changes are the result of a continued drop in demand and virus-related restrictions, United said.
The epidemic has killed more than 7,800 worldwide and infected over 190,000. The Trump administration is discussing a plan that could amount to as much as $1.2 trillion in spending—including direct payments of $1,000 or more to Americans within two weeks—to blunt some of the economic impact.
The latest cuts are bigger than what United announced just two days back, and the carrier is also slashing salaries after withdrawing its 2020 profit forecast. Analysts warned that airlines are set to announce more reductions to flight schedules as the drop in demand is poised to be worse than after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.