Nearly 600 United Airlines employees face being fired after failing to comply with the firm's Covid-19 vaccination policy.
The vast majority of its 67,000 US staff have supplied proof of vaccination, which was required by Monday.
"This was an incredibly difficult decision," its bosses said in a memo to employees.
The Chicago-based airline set out its Covid requirements for staff in August.
Its US employees had to upload proof of vaccination, or the first of two jabs, by the deadline on Monday.
The 593 workers who have refused a coronavirus vaccine and have not applied for an exemption on religious or medical grounds now face losing their jobs.
A further 2,000 employees have requested an exemption to the policy.
It previously said it would put those who are exempt on temporary, unpaid leave from 2 October. But those plans were put on hold after a lawsuit was filed by six employees challenging the policy.
Elsewhere in the US, few airlines have introduced vaccine mandates for its staff. Delta Airlines, for example, has announced a $200 (£148) monthly health insurance surcharge for those who are not jabbed.
You have to give it to them. United Airlines is taking a HUGE risk in their Covid "vax" policy.
If several pilots or airline workers die due to heart attacks, blood clots or other issues from the Covid 'vax' (workers from ANY airline)... internationally, pilots and airline staff may be declared GROUNDED due to the safety risk. All it takes is a few nations to make that declaration (based on cases)... and it's over. United Airlines entire company is now grounded and they cannot fly. Now what?
If they chose to ignore the consensus and put a few domestic planes in the air... and there is a single incident... United Airlines just risked the lives of all on board. They can get sued out of existence.
That's a pretty silly risk to take based on the reward/risk ratio:
Reward: All employees vaccinated - may not get as sick from Covid in the future (but still able to get, become ill from and transmit the virus).
Risk: All employees vaccinated - shut down entire airline, unable to fly due to 100% of staff vaccinated, unknown what duration until able to resume business, possibly lose the company or have to fire all current employees and hire all new staff to resume operations.
That's NOT a very good business decision on their part.
You have read my mind exactly!