The chief executives of American Airlines, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines will testify on Dec. 15 at an oversight hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee on the impact of $54 billion in COVID-19 government payroll support for U.S. airlines, Reuters reported. The hearing will look at "the effect on the airline industry’s workforce, and the effect of airline operational performance on American consumers," according to a committee statement. American CEO Doug Parker and Southwest CEO Gary Kelly, who are both stepping down in early 2022, will testify, as will United CEO Scott Kirby. Delta Air Lines Chief Operating Officer John Laughter also will testify, as will Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA. Lawmakers are expected to quiz executives about how carriers used pandemic-related federal aid, staffing issues and other matters. U.S. airlines and carriers around the world were hard hit by reduced business and tourist travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting in March 2020, Congress approved three rounds of taxpayer bailouts totaling $54 billion to cover much of U.S. airline payroll costs through Sept. 30 of this year as a result of the pandemic.
