Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
UNFRIENDLY SKIES
Airline workers brace formass layoffs
DETROIT » The worries are growing for United Airlines flight attendant Jordy Comeaux.
In a few days, he’ll be among roughly 40,000 airline workers whose jobs are likely to evaporate in an industry decimated by the coronavirus pandemic.
Unless Congress acts to help for a second time, United will furlough Comeaux on Thursday, cutting off his income and health insurance. Unemployment and the money made by his husband, a home health nurse, won’t be enough to pay the bills including rent near Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.
“I don’t have enough, unfortunately, togetby,” saidComeaux, 31, whohasworkedforUnited for four years. “No oneknowswhat’s going to come next and how to prepare.”
Since the pandemic hit, thousands of flight attendants, baggage handlers, gate agents and others have been getting at least partial pay through $ 25 billion in grants and loans to the nation’s airlines. To receive the aid, companies agreed not to lay off employees through Sept. 30. That “Payroll Support Program” helped many stay on, and keep health care and other benefits. It all runs out on Thursday. With air travel down about 70% from last year, many carriers including United and American say they’ll be forced to cut jobs without additional aid. Delta and Southwest, two other big carriers, tapped private capital markets and say they’ll avoid layoffs.
Industry analysts say fear of air travel and businesses keeping employees close to home have brought an unprecedented crisis to the industry, resulting in cataclysmic losses. The four largest U. S. airlines — Delta, United, American and Southwest — together lost $ 10 billion in the second quarter alone. Fewer airline passengers also means less demand for rental cars, hotels and restaurants. With demand for new planes down, airplane manufacturer Boeing has also cut thousands of jobs.
“To my understanding, this is the steepest demand shock for commercial aviation in human history,” said Morningstar aviation analyst Burkett Huey.
The InternationalAirTransport
Association on Tuesday lowered its full- year traffic forecast. The trade group for airlines around theworld now expects 2020 air travel to fall 66% from 2019, compared to its previous estimateof a 63% decline.
In the U. S., Congress has been considering a secondround of airline aid for weeks, but it’s hung up in the debate over a larger national relief package. The Airlines for America trade group said a House proposal unveiledMonday
raises some hope because Democrats and Republicans appear to be talking. Layoffs could be delayed if talks are promising.
Toni Valentine, 41, a United reservations agent in Detroitwho has been with the airline for 15 years, has been told she’ll be laid off this week. She has six children ranging in age from 2 to 22, and her husband can’t work because he’s recovering fromamassive stroke.