United Airlines

Airlines are working with law enforcement and airport agencies in the Washington area to ensure the safety of travelers and workers

The airline- which had never laid off a worker in its 49-year history-- had cautioned just weeks ago that nearly 7,000 workers were in danger of losing their job come within a few months if their unions did not accept pay cuts of about 10%.

Negative results from a molecular COVID-19 test or antigen test must be obtained within 72 hours of departure from London Heathrow Airport for incoming flights to Newark Liberty International Airport. 

As part of the new package, the airline industry will receive $15 billion for passenger air carriers and $1 billion for contractors to be exclusively used for employee wages, salaries, and benefits. In order to be eligible, airlines must agree to avoid furloughs or pay and benefit reductions until March 31. Airlines are also required to recall employees involuntarily furloughed between Oct. 1 and the date the airlines agree to the bill's rules. 

Earlier this month, employees received a memo titled “International extraction procedure – COVID affected crew member" that outlined how United will safely extract crew from a foreign country to help them avoid quarantines or treatments unless necessary,

The airline has partnered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to begin a voluntary contact-tracing program for all passengers arriving from international destinations, before expanding to all passengers on outbound domestic or international flights.

Airlines are doing all they can to revive bookings amid the ongoing outbreak.

On Tuesday, United Airlines announced that it has launched “Agent on Demand,” a virtual customer service program.

In response to what's known as "Giving Tuesday," some of the country's largest carriers have begun encouraging their customers to donate air miles to help offset travel costs for organizations.

The couple took a COVID-19 test in Seattle after returning from abroad and then received positive results after the flight bound for San Francisco had taken off, according to police.

Southwest Airlines, which has never laid off a worker in its 49-year history, notified 6,828 employees that they may be involuntarily furloughed next year as the airline industry continues to suffer amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

The move follows reports of lengthy waits facing airline crews upon arrival, limited local accommodations and restrictions on their movement in China

The airline industry is readying its fleet to help deliver shipments of the forthcoming COVID-19 vaccines pending approval from health officials.

Airlines are looking at potential testing innovations and protocols to help revive confidence and improve safety.

United is among the major U.S. airlines that began implementing temporary waivers of change fees this year

United's program kicks off just a month after reports surfaced that U.S. officials were looking into opening travel between New York City and London with shortened traveler quarantine periods as soon as the holidays.

United is adding more than 1,400 domestic flights during the week of Thanksgiving. United will also monitor last minute bookings in the event that the company needs "to swap in larger aircraft" to accommodate for the last-minute demand. 

United developed contactless digital payment system for flyers to buy food, drinks.

From Nov. 16 through Dec. 11, United will offer rapid tests to every crew member and passenger over the age of two on select flights from Newark Liberty International Airport to London Heathrow as part of its transatlantic testing pilot program.

U.S. airlines expect it will be years before their business recovers from the coronavirus pandemic, even after pulling together over $100 billion by tapping government aid and mortgaging assets including planes and frequent-flier programs.