CEO of bailed out United Airlines thanks America for 'vital public assistance' and pledges aircraft to deliver medical supplies throughout the world

United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz announced Saturday that the company would be dedicating several cargo charter flights to help deliver critical medical supplies.
Munoz said the company would use its planes to carry supplies around the US and to key international business locations at least 40 times a week.
In his statement, he also thanked the US government for bailing out United Airlines and the entire airline industry.
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In an email thanking the US government for bailing out the US airline industry, United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz pledged some of its planes to deliver critical medical supplies and goods during the coronavirus pandemic.

"Right now, aircraft flying the United livery and insignia, flown by our aviation professionals, have been repurposed to deliver vital medical supplies and goods to some of the places that need it most," Munoz announced in an email.

The major US airline CEO also announced that several of United's idle widebody aircraft would be used as charter cargo flights to transfer goods critical to battling the coronavirus around the US and to "key international business locations," primarily in Europe.

United began dedicating some of its passenger planes to transport goods for commercial customers on March 19 one cargo flight from Houston, Texas contained was made up of 40% medical supplies.

The flights are currently operating out of US international airports including in New Jersey, Texas, and Chicago.

Munoz pledged that the airline would make at least 40 of these cargo trips per week, but a spokesperson for United told Business Insider that the company is expanding their cargo flights every week.

The news comes just after President Donald Trump signed a $2 trillion economic relief package on Friday, which included a nearly $60 billion bailout based on requests made by the nation's airlines, including United. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, granted $58 billion to be split amongst the companies on the condition that the airlines could not lay off or furlough employees through September.

In a statement the following day, Munoz wrote a heartfelt email thanking US officials for passing a "comprehensive relief act to ensure our airline" which he claimed would go to save the jobs of 100,000 United employees.

"I want to relay to you, in as deeply personal a way I can, the heartfelt appreciation of my 100,000 United team members and their families for this vital public assistance to keep America and United flying for you," Munoz wrote in an email sent to Business Insider.

"And it allows us time to make decisions about the future of our airline to ensure that we can offer you the service you deserve and have come to expect as our customers," Munoz added.

As the coronavirus swept the globe, countries have implemented strict lockdown measures to curb the spread of the virus thrusting the airline industry into free fall at least 55 global airlines have completely stopped flying scheduled flights due to closed borders, travel restrictions, airspace closures, and plummeting travel demands.

On Friday, Trump signed a $2 trillion stimulus package that allotted $25 billion in loans and loan guarantees for passenger airlines, and an additional $4 billion for cargo air carriers.

A separate $17 billion in loans is specified for companies "critical to maintaining national security." Boeing is reported to be the intended recipient for a large portion of the amount.

The loans are conditional on job protection airlines accepting aid will not be allowed to lay off or furlough workers until September 30, at which point the crisis could be over or winding down for air carriers.

During a time when people are required to quarantine and social distance, Munoz said the company looked forward to resuming its role as a "connector" flying passengers to "the moments that matter most in your life" after the coronavirus crisis passes.

"Our nation and communities will recover and United will return to service you, our customers," Munoz wrote. "When that happens, we want you to fly United with even greater pride because of the actions we took on behalf of our customers, our employees and everyone we serve."

David Slotnick and Julie Bort contributed to this story.

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