Airlines would get $17 billion in U.S. government aid to recall furloughed workers and help cover payrolls through March under a bipartisan pandemic relief package unveiled in Congress on Monday that won immediate backing from an industry group, Bloomberg News reported. Airlines “enthusiastically support” the proposal, the trade group Airlines for America said in a press release. Carriers will attempt to bring back workers who have been laid off if it passes, “but that becomes increasingly challenging with each passing day,” the group said. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi asked top congressional leaders in both parties to meet yesterday to discuss COVID-19 relief and a crucial government spending package, congressional aides said, in what could be a make-or-break moment for a grand bargain after months of stalemate. The $748 billion bill was put forth by a dozen senators and has the support of 50 House members. Some Democrats in the group suggested voting on the bill even though it doesn’t have a top Democratic priority of state and local aid. Carriers are losing more than two-thirds of passengers compared with 2019 levels due to COVID-19 and cut tens of thousands of workers after initial government assistance aimed at paying salaries expired on Oct. 1.
