American Airlines Group (AAL 0.64%) and United Airlines Holdings (UAL -0.08%) plan to proceed with a combined 32,000 job cuts after a Sept. 30 deadline passed without lawmakers agreeing to provide additional payroll support to the airline industry.
The airlines were hit hard by COVID-19, but the industry received $50 billion under the CARES Act to boost liquidity and support payroll. As a condition of the payroll support, airlines were prohibited from doing layoffs through Sept. 30.
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With revenue down upwards of 80% year over year and a full recovery still years off, the industry needs to shrink. Airlines and their unions have lobbied for additional government assistance and have support from lawmakers in both parties, but with the prospects of a fresh stimulus package uncertain, American and United are proceeding with scheduled layoffs beginning Oct. 1.
American will furlough 19,000 workers in the days to come, while United intends to furlough 13,000. United's pilots will be spared furloughs thanks to a deal reached between the union and management last month, but the cuts are expected to impact most other areas of operations at both companies.
Washington leaders remain hopeful about passing a new stimulus bill that would contain new payroll support in return for a continuing prohibition on furloughs. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had urged airlines to hold off on furloughs while negotiations continue. Both United and American said they are ready to reverse course if a deal is reached in the next few days.
"I am extremely sorry we have reached this outcome," American CEO Doug Parker wrote in a letter to employees announcing the cuts. "It is not what you all deserve."
