JetBlue CEO calls for new US aid with ‘day of reckoning’ near

JetBlue Airways’ top executive is joining an industry push for additional federal help as passenger totals plateau at about a quarter of year-earlier levels. Airlines are “in a very, very critical situation right now,” said CEO Robin Hayes as he called on the Trump administration and Congress to resolve a stalemate over a new economic stimulus plan. Carriers have said that the stalled travel recovery may force them to cut tens of thousands of jobs on Oct. 1, when restrictions expire on $25b of existing US payroll aid. “They absolutely have to come together and build a stimulus bill to help the country continue to get through this,” Hayes said Thursday. “The day of reckoning is coming for the industry, because we can’t continue with where we are in terms of numbers of jobs we have and see demand at 25% to 30% of where we’d normally be.” JetBlue has joined other US carriers in trimming its flying this month amid a resurgence of coronavirus cases and quarantine requirements adopted by some states. The New York-based carrier will fly about 40% of its normal schedule in August, down 10 to 15 percentage points from its earlier plan, Hayes said.<br/>