FORT WORTH (WBAP/KLIF) – President Trump’s signing of a COVID relief package is bringing requested assistance to the airline industry.
The COVID relief deal gives $15 billion-dollars to passenger airlines. It’s much needed help in an industry that has seen a significant drop in demand since the pandemic began.
“Despite all of the uncertainty of the past few months, we are grateful for the outcome,” said Capt. Eric Ferguson, President of the Allied Pilots Association.
American Airlines has already recalled the 1,247 APA pilots who had been furloughed since October. They are among 19,000 American Airlines employees who are being brought off the sidelines.
“The passage of this emergency relief bill is testament to the efforts of so many for so long, throughout this unprecedented and devastating pandemic,” Ferguson said. “And we must continue because our work is not finished.
Southwest airlines no longer anticipates any pay cuts or furloughs next year.
“The new law will provide payroll support for all Southwest Employees through March 31, 2021,” Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly said this week in a letter to employees. “Given this, we currently do not anticipate the need to conduct any furloughs or pay cuts next year.”
Kelly said he is incredibly thankful for the thousands of Employees who used their “Warrior Spirit” to advocate for the PSP extension with their elected representatives in Congress, presenting impassioned pleas in an effort to save thousands of jobs—not just at Southwest—but across our industry.
Listen to Clayton Neville’s story below:
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