United Airlines Says Covid Leave Appeal Moot After Policy Change

An appeal challenging United Airlines Inc.'s decision to place employees on unpaid leave as a religious accommodation from the company’s Covid-19 vaccination mandate should be dismissed as moot in light of changed public health conditions and company policies, the airline told the Fifth Circuit on Thursday.

In February a divided panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit revived pilot David Sambrano’s and flight attendant Genise Kincannon’s bid for a preliminary injunction against the airline. They sought protection from United’s policy of indefinite leave for employees seeking religious accommodation from the company’s vaccine requirement.

United asked the ...