US airlines to participate in Senate oversight hearing

US airlines will take part in a Senate oversight hearing this month on the industry, an aviation trade group said on Friday, with lawmakers expected to quiz executives about how carriers used pandemic-related federal aid, staffing issues and other matters. The Senate Commerce Committee has invited the chief executives of seven major US airlines to testify at the planned Dec. 15 hearing. Airlines for America (A4A), an industry trade group, said in a statement that "the US airlines look forward to participating" but did not specify whether the CEOs would testify, as requested by Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell, the committee's chair. Cantwell has invited the CEOs of American Airlines, Delta, Southwest, United, JetBlue, Alaska Airlines and Spirit Airlines to appear, Reuters reported this week. A4A said the carriers look forward to continuing to work with Cantwell and Senator Roger Wicker, the committee's top Republican, "on the issues facing the US airline industry." "I would encourage them to show up," Cantwell said Wednesday of the CEOs. "I think it is bad faith not to show up. ... The public deserves to know some answers." Cantwell added that "we're going to do our oversight role because this was a lot of money." Many of those CEOs are expected to be in Washington on the day of the hearing to take part in an A4A meeting, officials said.<br/>