United Airlines to furlough 1,088 workers around U.S.

MINNEAPOLIS — United Airlines plans to furlough 1,088 workers at bases around the country, according to layoff notices and the unions that represent the workers.

The nation's third-largest airline also plans to close maintenance facilities at the Newark, New York-LaGuardia and Philadelphia airports on Jan. 11.

United has been working for several months toward reducing its headcount by 7,000 positions as it trims the amount of flying it does. It's been using a combination of leaves, buyouts, and furloughs to eliminate those jobs. The latest furlough plans are part of that 7,000 total, which also includes plans to lay off roughly 1,500 office and management workers.