United Airlines is now preparing even bigger pilot furloughs after the recent decline of demand for air travel because of the ongoing global health crisis, a company official disclosed on Thursday.

The U.S. airline is looking to furlough 3,900 pilots, compared with the 2,250 planned earlier this month before the current increase in U.S. coronavirus cases that has caused another massive decline in consumer confidence.

United earlier this month announced that it might not have any recourse but to slash around 30 percent of its total headcount, or up to 36,000 staff, if travel demand continues to plummet or the carrier cannot strike a deal on acquisitions or leaves of absence. The pandemic wiped out over 80 percent of revenue in the airline industry in the second quarter compared with the previous period last year.

An internal memo obtained by Reuters, which the company confirmed was sent to pilots on Thursday, comes as unions lobby U.S. legislators to extend a $32 billion airline rescue package that safeguarded aviation employees' salaries and jobs through September. A second stimulus boost referred to as CARES Act 2, has Congressional backing but could encounter obstacles among some Republican senators, sources with knowledge of the situation disclosed.

United chief executive officer Scott Kirby said earlier this month that the airline anticipated the normalization in travel demand to plateau at around 50 percent of 2019 levels until a vaccine for COVID-19 is produced and made available in the market.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, United expanded its local network by making deals with regional carriers, which offered more affordable terms. However, with limited travel due to the crisis, United has been forced to scale its plans and cut its workforce. This follows a trend of most companies also reducing scheduled flights for the rest of the summer and fall in order to retain cash.

The airline industry is not allowed to initiate involuntary layoffs through Sept. 30 as a stipulation for being granted billions in government funding, but United has cautioned it expects broader cuts as soon as that restriction is lifted.

United did not issue any comment on whether other groups of employees, like flight attendants or baggage handlers, could also be part of the rising number of furloughs, citing the volatile nature of the situation.

Other U.S. carriers are also bracing to slash jobs beginning in October when layoff restrictions in the first pandemic assistance package expire. Delta, JetBlue, Spirit, and Americans have all warned of possible massive employment cuts, although Southwest disclosed last week that it does not plan to terminated workers until at least next year.