Airline Industry Offer To Avoid Layoffs For Five Months Is Rebuffed As Bailout Talks Continue
March 24, 2020
The chance for thousands of airline employees to keep their jobs through the summer may be dimming.
On Saturday, with the coronavirus crisis having largely idled the global airline industry, the 10 leading U.S. carriers offered Congress a deal: Give us $28 billion in payroll protection grants, and the carriers will not lay off anybody through August 31.
On Sunday afternoon, the offer appeared to have been rejected, although negotiations continue on a $1.8 trillion package. Democratic leaders were backing the grants, while Republican leaders were opposed. “No deal on vast coronavirus stimulus bill as crunch time arrives on Capitol Hill,” was the Washington Post headline early Sunday afternoon.
