A flight passenger, standing at a ticket counter of U.S. carrier United Airlines, wears a protective mask at Frankfurt Airport, Germany, March 12, 2020. REUTERS/Ralph Orlowski

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - United Airlines UAL.O confirmed Friday it is in talks with U.S. government officials about possible financial assistance in the middle of a dramatic falloff in travel demand due to the coronavirus outbreak.

In an email to employees seen by Reuters, United said its chief executive officer Oscar Munoz “has spent the last two days in Washington, D.C., meeting with senior officials in the Trump Administration and senior members of the U.S. House and Senate in both parties to understand what government policies they may be considering and explain to them the impact that the coronavirus has had on our business.”

Delta and American also confirmed they are in talks.