Skip to main content
Partly Cloudy icon
47º

United Airlines to fire nearly 600 employees for refusing COVID-19 vaccine

Employees had until Sept. 27 to comply with companywide vaccine mandate

FILE - In this July 2, 2021 file photo, a United Airlines jetliner taxis down a runway for take off from Denver International Airport in Denver. The vast majority of United Airlines employees are deciding to get vaccinated against COVID-19 rather than risk losing their job. United said Wednesday, Sept. 22, that more than 97% of its U.S.-based employees are fully vaccinated. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, file) (David Zalubowski, Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

United Airlines confirmed they are in the process of firing close to 600 employees who did not comply with their companywide coronavirus vaccine mandate.

The airline confirmed the information to our sister station out in Houston, KPRC. Officials said a total of 693 employees, which is less than 1% of the company, were in the process of being let go due to not complying with the mandate by Monday’s deadline.

Recommended Videos



Employees had until Sept. 27 to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or they would face termination with the company, according to the Associated Press.

On Tuesday, United CEOs Scott Kirby and Brett Hart sent out an internal memo to staff, saying 99% of their employees that are based in the U.S. have been vaccinated since the initial announcement was sent out in August.

“This was an incredibly difficult decision but keeping our team safe has always been our first priority,” the memo read.


Loading...
About the Author
Nicole Del Rosario headshot

Nicole Del Rosario joined WSLS 10 in August 2020.