Ken Diaz, president of the United Master Executive Council of the AFA, called the projected number of flight attendant cuts 'overreaching, excessive and punitive'' in an email to flight attendants. Her union called for a six-month extension of payroll protection for the aviation industry, given the dire straits, but United officials said they can't count on more help from Washington, especially in an election year. Not so fast: United to pare back just announced August flights as coronavirus cases surge Demand was just barely climbing back to 20% of last year and even those minimal gains evaporated over the last week due to surging COVID-19 cases across the country.' aviation industry,' she said in a statement. 'This crisis dwarfs all others in aviation history and there's no end in sight. 'COVID-19 is an unprecedented threat to aviation workers and the entire U.S. Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, which represents United flight attendants, called the numbers a 'gut punch' but praised United for offering a realistic outlook. United's flight attendant, pilot union leaders react The airline had to put a number on the cuts because of federal requirements to warn employees about mass layoffs.