United Airlines layoffs, on the record
Every job cut, severance charge and restructuring United Airlines reported in its annual reports, 2023 to 2025, quoted from the filings. Headcount went from approximately 103,300 to approximately 113,200.
Headcount, as reported
| Annual report | Employees | As of |
|---|---|---|
| 10-K for 2023 | approximately 103,300 | As of December 31, 2023 |
| 10-K for 2024 | 107,300 | December 31, 2024 |
| 10-K for 2025 | approximately 113,200 | As of December 31, 2025 |
Job cuts, severance and restructuring
Our summaryThe filing reports special charges of 949 million dollars in 2023 as an operating expense line item, but the text does not describe the layoffs or programs behind them.
Word for word“Special charges 949 140 ( 3,367 ) Other operating expenses 8,062 6,628 4,433 Total operating expense 49,506 42,618 25,656 Operating income (loss) 4,211 2,337 ( 1,022 ) Nonoperating income (expense): Interest expense ( 1,956 ) ( 1,778 ) ( 1,657 ) Interest income 827 298 36 Interest capitalized 182 105 80 Unrealized gains (losses) on investments, net 27 20 ( 34 ) Miscellaneous, net 96 8 40 Total nonoperating expense, net ( 824 ) ( 1,347 ) ( 1,535 ) Income (loss) before income taxes 3,387 990 ( 2,557 ) Income tax expense (benefit) 769 253 ( 593 ) Net income (loss) $ 2,618 $ 737 $ ( 1,964 ) Earnings (loss) per share, basic $ 7.98 $ 2.26 $ ( 6.10 ) Earnings (loss) per share, diluted $ 7.89 $ 2.23 $ ( 6.10 ) The accompanying Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.” 10-K for 2023
Our summaryThe filing shows a 2021 voluntary separation leave program for full-time and part-time employees, recorded as employee severance.
Word for word“Special charges (credits) 949 140 ( 3,367 ) Other operating expenses 8,059 6,626 4,431 Total operating expense 49,503 42,616 25,654 Operating income (loss) 4,214 2,339 ( 1,020 ) Nonoperating income (expense): Interest expense ( 1,956 ) ( 1,778 ) ( 1,657 ) Interest income 827 298 36 Interest capitalized 182 105 80 Unrealized gains (losses) on investments, net 27 20 ( 34 ) Miscellaneous, net 96 8 40 Total nonoperating expense, net ( 824 ) ( 1,347 ) ( 1,535 ) Income (loss) before income taxes 3,390 992 ( 2,555 ) Income tax expense (benefit) 770 253 ( 593 ) Net income (loss) $ 2,620 $ 739 $ ( 1,962 ) The accompanying Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements. 61 Table of Contents UNITED AIRLINES, INC. STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (In millions) Year Ended December 31, 2023 2022 2021 Net income (loss) $ 2,620 $ 739 $ ( 1,962 ) Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: Employee benefit plans ( 261 ) 1,145 199 Investments and other 24 ( 28 ) ( 2 ) Total other comprehensive income, net of tax ( 237 ) 1,117 197 Total comprehensive income (loss), net $ 2,383 $ 1,856 $ ( 1,765 ) The accompanying Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements. 62 Table of Contents UNITED AIRLINES, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In millions, except shares) At December 31, ASSETS 2023 2022 Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 6,058 $ 7,166 Short-term investments 8,330 9,248 Restricted cash 31 45 Receivables, less allowance for credit losses (2023—$ 18 ; 2022—$ 11 ) 1,898 1,801 Aircraft fuel, spare parts and supplies, less obsolescence allow” 10-K for 2023
Our summaryThe filing reports a 2024 Special Charges line of $112 million for gains or losses on asset sales and other special charges, which is not a layoff, workforce reduction, or severance program.
Word for word“(Gains) losses on sale of assets and other special charges $ 112 $ 135 $ 140 Labor contract ratification bonuses — 814 — Total operating special charges 112 949 140 Nonoperating unrealized (gains) losses on investments, net 199 ( 27 ) ( 20 ) Nonoperating debt extinguishment and modification fees 128 11 7 Total nonoperating special charges and unrealized (gains) losses on investments, net 327 ( 16 ) ( 13 ) Total operating and nonoperating special charges and unrealized (gains) losses on investments, net 439 933 127 Income tax benefit, net of valuation allowance ( 54 ) ( 214 ) ( 33 ) Total operating and nonoperating special charges and unrealized (gains) losses on investments, net of income taxes $ 385 $ 719 $ 94 Operating and nonoperating special charges and unrealized (gains) losses on investments included the following: During 2024, the Company recorded $ 128 million of charges related to the prepayment in full of the outstanding principal balance of the MileagePlus Term Loan in July 2024, the refinancing of its 2021 term loans in February 2024 and a partial prepayment of the 2024 Term Loans.” 10-K for 2024
| Fiscal year ended | Restructuring charges |
|---|---|
| 2016-12-31 | $74 million |
| 2017-12-31 | $0 |
| 2018-12-31 | $0 |
United Airlines filed 3 restructuring notices (Form 8-K, Item 2.05) since 2016. This page shows what the company reported to the SEC, not news reports or state layoff notices.
Read from United Airlines’s annual reports (10-K for 2025, 10-K for 2024, 10-K for 2023) and the financial data it files with the SEC, as of 2026-02-12. Every quotation is word for word from the filing linked beside it; how these pages are built and checked. The full record is in its company data sheet.