United to Furlough 700 Flight Attendants

United aircraft in Chicago

United Airlines, the world’s second largest airline, announced Tuesday it will involuntarily furlough over 700 flight attendants.

Prior to announcing the involuntary furlough, United had sought volunteers for furloughs and also offered partnership flying.

The flight attendants who will be impacted by the move are on the United Airlines side of United Continental.  The airline is reportedly offering flight attendants from the former Continental Airlines leaves of absence.

The United Airlines flight attendants union said in a statement on its website that it is working with the airline to avoid the layoffs and maintains that the union’s contract “prohibits the involuntary furlough of any of our Members as a result of productivity improvements.”

The move follows an announcement by the Chicago-based airline earlier in the week to cancel a $1 billion order for Airbus aircraft.

The layoffs would be the first by a legacy carrier since a wave of hiring started roughly four years ago.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)