US lawmaker: airline payroll assistance will be part of COVID-19 measure

A senior US House lawmaker told reporters that a COVID-19 relief package would include a new round of payroll assistance for US airline workers. Representative Peter DeFazio, who chairs the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said the new round of airline government assistance would extend restrictions on executive compensation and stock buybacks. US airlines have been awarded $40b in payroll support since March and airline unions last week asked Congress for another $15b to keep thousands of workers on the payroll past March 31, when the current round expires. Reuters reported Thursday that Democratic leaders in Congress are likely to back $14b to extend airline payroll support for six months, keeping nearly 30,000 airline workers on the job. Flight attendant union leader Sara Nelson said Thursday that $14b was being discussed for airlines and $1b for contractors. “Congress has to come up with more funds to support these workers,” Nelson said.<br/>