Delta Airlines and its union pilots have reached a preliminary cost-cutting agreement to avoid furloughs until Jan. 1, 2022, CNBC reported Thursday night.
The pact — which would reduce monthly minimum guaranteed hours by 5% — still needs approval from Delta’s early 13,000 pilots, the news outlet reported.
The company had planned to furlough up to 1,941 pilots.
Furloughed airline workers generally retain rights to be recalled by the company, but given the industry’s downturn in the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s not clear when that could be, CNBC reported.
According to CNBC, American Airlines and United Airlines earlier this month started furloughing more than 30,000 employees. Carriers had been prohibited from cutting jobs until Oct. 1 under the terms of $25 billion in federal aid for the hard-hit industry.
Atlanta-based Delta has said its other frontline workers like flight attendants escaped furloughs because approximately 18,000 employees — about 20% of its pre-pandemic staff — took buyouts, while thousands of others took unpaid leave, CNBC reported.
Delta had postponed planned furloughs until Nov. 1 as negotiations continued with pilots, the news outlet noted.
Related Stories:
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.