Republican senators introduce bill for $28 billion in additional aid for airline industry as job cuts loom

Republican Senators on Monday introduced a bill that would give the ailing airline industry more than $28b in additional aid as carriers get ready to cut more than 30,000 jobs as early as next month. Airlines have struggled throughout the coronavirus pandemic, racking up billions in losses, while a significant rebound in travel demand has yet to materialize. Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, chairman of the Commerce Committee, and Maine Sen. Susan Collins, chairman of the Appropriations subcommittee that oversees transportation introduced the legislation 10 days before airlines can cut jobs under an aid package that protected workers through the end of this month. Congress approved $32b for passenger airlines, cargo carriers and contractors in March on the condition that a set level of air service is maintained during the pandemic and that neither jobs nor pay rates are cut through Sept. 30. The new bill would protect jobs until the end of next March. Airline CEOs and labor unions have been urging lawmakers and Trump administration officials to include additional aid in a new, national coronavirus relief bill, a provision that has won bipartisan support. But Congress and the White House have repeatedly failed to reach a deal and industry workers and executives are fretting about the lack of additional relief as air travel demand remains at less than a third of last year’s levels. “We’re grateful for the continued show of broad, bipartisan support in Congress for our team members and our industry, and we appreciate the willingness of these senators to take action to avoid imminent furloughs and air service cuts when the Payroll Support Program expires next week,” said American Airlines. <br/>