News / Economy

American Airlines calls for 6-month extension of US aid

Wednesday, 16 September 2020 8:39 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 16 September 2020 8:43 PM ]

American Airlines has called on the United States government to extend aid for six months to deal with 'dire circumstances' amid the covid-19 pandemic.

In a letter on Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, and House and Senate leadership were urged to “find a way to work together” on the next relief package.

The letter was signed by American Airlines, the Allied Pilots Association and the Association of Professional Flight Attendants among others.

US records highest daily coronavirus death toll in weeks

The United States is now the worst-affected country by the coronavirus, with more than 6.6 million diagnosed cases and at least 195,942 deaths.

“Despite the aggressive self-help measures the company has taken to bolster its financial position, and even with several thousand of our colleagues opting for voluntary leave and early retirement, nearly 20,000 American Airlines team members are facing furloughs in just two short weeks, and several markets in our domestic network are at risk of significant reductions in air service,” the groups wrote. Other unions on the letter included the Transport Workers Union, Communications Workers of America, and the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers.

“The dire circumstances we face now — massive furloughs and reductions in air service — are exactly the circumstances the PSP was designed to guard against, which explains why a six-month extension of the program enjoys overwhelming support from a broad coalition of Republicans and Democrats in both chambers,” they added.

The United States is the worst-affected country, with more than 6.6 million diagnosed cases and at least 195,942 deaths.

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