More than 40,000 airline workers are anticipate receiving airline notices tomorrow as federal aid will expire October 1st and Congress is unable to push through a vital payroll assistance program due to republican resistance, the Associated Press reports.
Air travel has decreased about 70% since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, leading airlines to lay off tens of thousands of workers already. The existing federal aid provides for airlines to staff and service routes to small cities that would otherwise be completely shut off from commercial air travel.
The Democrats are pushing a program that would provide $28 billion in aid to airlines to continue operations and assist with payroll. Congressional republicans, however, object to airline bailouts, leaning instead to helping small airports continue operations, though no commercial flights to them may operate.
Florida republican Senator Rick Scott told airline union members he opposed “bailing out airlines and other large corporations” adding, “It’s unfortunate that any airline would furlough thousands of of employees after accepting billions in taxpayer dollars.”