American Airlines backs calls to extend billions in federal aid through March

American Airlines’ top executives on Wednesday backed efforts to extend billions in federal aid to protect aviation jobs through March as the pandemic’s impact on travel threatens tens of thousands of positions. Some $32b in federal aid was set aside to protect jobs in the US airline industry, and it prohibited employers from cutting positions through Sept. 30 under the CARES Act relief package that lawmakers passed in March. But with that deadline looming and a surge in US coronavirus cases hurting a nascent recovery in travel demand, some lawmakers and labour unions are seeking additional aid. The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act requires employers to notify staff about possible layoffs or temporary furloughs generally 60 days in advance, meaning airlines are beginning to warn workers about potential furloughs this fall. Earlier this week, bipartisan House lawmakers urged in a letter to other members of Congress to extend funding for the program through March 2021, which labor unions called for late last month. <br/>