Alignment: Set a public goal in 2021 that 50% of students at its new pilot training academy would be women and people of color; CEO Scott Kirby publicly defended the diversity hiring goal and criticized opponents; sustained Pride and DEI commitments.
Summary
United Airlines announced in April 2021 that 50% of the students at its new Aviate Academy pilot-training program would be women and people of color — a high-profile race- and gender-conscious hiring target that became one of the most-publicized corporate-diversity goals in aviation. CEO Scott Kirby has publicly defended the program against subsequent criticism.
Claims & Sources
Claim 1: United set a goal that 50% of students at its new pilot training academy would be women and people of color.
Source: United Airlines (official press release) — United Sets New Diversity Goal.
COVID-19 vaccine mandate posture: Mandated COVID vaccine for all U.S. employees and terminated those who refused without an accommodation. United was among the first major U.S. companies to fire workers over the mandate.
Source: CNBC — United’s unvaccinated staff drops from 593 to 320 after company said they would be fired
Related Brands in Airlines
Delta Air Lines · American Airlines · Southwest Airlines · JetBlue