United losing $1.4M every two weeks by placing unvaccinated pilots on paid leave

United Airlines is losing over a million dollars every two weeks by keeping unvaccinated pilots on paid leave, according to court documents.  

In court documents filed on Oct. 22, the Chicago-based carrier argued that because of a temporary restraining order on its vaccine mandate, it has "been forced to place unvaccinated pilots on paid leave, which costs approximately $1.4 million every two weeks."     

The carrier further explained that "vaccinated pilots in United’s workforce refuse to risk their safety flying with unvaccinated pilots," according to the court documents.  

Earlier this month, a federal judge extended a ban on the carrier putting employees on unpaid leave for seeking a medical or religious exemption from the airline’s vaccine mandate. The order was in favor of the six workers who are suing the airline, claiming that it is discriminating against employees who get exemptions by placing them on unpaid leave.