Poll: To What Level Do You Expect Passenger Demand To Be Restored By Summer 2021?

United Airlines does not know what the passenger-demand recovery will look like coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the carrier is taking solace in trends indicating a depressed international market will continue to stimulate cargo-only flying, which the carrier can provide.

Speaking during a Sanford Bernstein virtual event May 28, United CEO Scott Kirby reaffirmed general industry consensus that domestic recovery will outpace international’s rebound. But the airline is taking the conservative approach of modeling for no recovery deep into 2020 and adjusting its costs to a cash-burn goal accordingly.

Domestic demand is showing small signs of recovery. United carried 50,000 passengers on May 27, Kirby said. That’s up from 10,000 during April’s trough, but still just 10% of 2019 demand.

This is an interactive piece, please allow poll to load. 

Get regular analysis and insights from Aviation Week Network’s award-winning editorial and data teams on technology and business advances impacting the global aviation, aerospace and defense industries