International Flight Assistant Association President Sara Nelson joins airline executives, union leaders and political leaders to call on Congress to approve an extension of the Payroll Support Program to Save Thousands of jobs, during a press conference outside the U.S. Capitol on September 22, 2020 Washington dc.
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Some airline executives and unions are seeking a third round of billions in federal aid as tens of thousands of workers are once again faced with places where travel demand is still depressed in the Covid pandemic.
The current $ 15 billion round of aid expires on April 1, and American Airlines and United Airlines warned last week that they could cut 27,000 combined jobs by then. These funds forced airlines to call back workers who were killed in the fall and keep their current jobs.
“Essential workers have been living with incredible chaos and uncertainty. All staff are working on the problems,” said Sara Nelson, international president of the Flight Assistants Association-CWA, the largest flight attendants union. great of the country, in a written testimony in a hearing house on Thursday. “A continuation of [payroll support] I can not wait “.
Congress allocated $ 25 billion in aid designed to keep employees on the payroll at the start of the pandemic last year that forced them to keep jobs until Oct. 1. A $ 15 billion aid package was passed in the latest coronavirus relief bill in December the same terms through March 31. Airlines and unions now want about $ 15 billion more to secure jobs by Sept. 30.
“We are fully behind the efforts of union leaders to fight for an extension and will lend our time and energy to support that effort in every way we can,” said American Airlines CEO Doug Parker and President Robert Isom. in a staff note announcing 13,000 warnings today Wednesday. “Our nation’s leaders understand the vital role that airline workers play in keeping the country moving. They showed their support last year and we will encourage them to do the same again as long as the pandemic continues throughout the country. world “.
Last week, United Airlines told staff it “continues to monitor demand and advocate for continued government support, and we are all working hard for the day when we can get our co-workers back permanently.”
Travel demand is still weak. U.S. airlines lost a record $ 34 billion in 2020 and have warned they expect a rocky start to 2021 as they navigate new travel restrictions and testing requirements.
Last month, the United States began demanding negative Covid tests to address flights to the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now “actively looking” to make Covid testing mandatory for domestic travel, which the industry vehemently opposes.
Asked whether the industry should get a third round of federal aid, JetBlue Airways chief executive Robin Hayes told CNBC on Monday that the travel and hospitality sector has been among the hardest hit. ‘economy and needed support.
“I think it’s right and natural that this is where support should be directed,” Hayes said.