US: Key lawmakers back unions' call for new airline bailout

Key US House Democrats are backing a push by airline unions for a new round of government bailouts to keep workers employed in the face of tens of thousands of possible layoffs this fall, according to a letter encouraging other colleagues to sign on. In March, Congress approved $32b for the aviation industry to keep workers on payroll through Sept. 30, but as air travel demand remains depressed in the pandemic, airlines have warned of furloughs in October, prompting union calls for a six-month extension of aid. Airlines for America (A4A) said Thursday it is not actively seeking new government assistance but would accept new bailout funds as long as no new strings were attached. Under the first package, airlines agreed to limits on share buybacks and executive compensation, and issued warrants on a portion of the funds that the government can exchange for shares. If Congress enacts labour's proposal, "we would support our workforce’s decision to pursue a simple and clean extension of the grants as long as no additional or extraneous conditions are required," an A4A spokeswoman said. Airlines also agreed not to force any job cuts before October, giving them time to assess the pace of a recovery.<br/>