US airlines seek $50 billion coronavirus aid package to avoid collapse

Major US airlines have sought a government bailout of more than $50 billion as the White House is urgently drafting a financial assistance package in the wake of the steep falloff in US travel demand sparked by the coronavirus pandemic.

Airlines for America, the trade group representing American Airlines, United Airlines Inc, Delta Air Lines Inc, Southwest Airlines Co and others, said the industry needs $25 billion in grants, $25 billion in loans and significant tax relief to survive.

They also seek tax relief that could be worth tens of billions of dollars through the end of at least 2021.

The airlines also seek a package of $8 billion, equally divided in grants and loans for cargo carriers. Airports are seeking at least $10 billion in emergency government assistance, sources
told Reuters.

"We have to back the airlines - it's not their fault," US President Donald Trump said, saying he has told the airlines he will assist them but did not endorse a specific figure. "We're
going to be backstopping the airlines. We’re going to be helping them very much."

The pain was felt around the globe, with European carriers making unprecedented cuts to flights, costs and staffing while stepping up calls for emergency aid. South America's largest carrier, LATAM Airlines Group, canceled 90% of its international flights as demand collapsed.

The US airlines warned that without action all of their members could run out of money by year-end - and even sooner if credit card companies stared withholding payments. Without
action soon, airlines could take further urgent actions to furlough thousands of workers.

"This is a today problem, not a tomorrow problem. It requires urgent action," said Nicholas Calio, president of the airline group. The airlines' proposal would see them get funds within 15 days of approval.

US carriers have slashed flights and last week met with the White House to sound the alarm for urgent action. The National Economic Council and US. Treasury are drafting a
proposed assistance package and officials have been in early talks with lawmakers, officials told Reuters.

Separately, Amtrak and US airports are also in talks about receiving urgent government assistance. Amtrak is slashing trains and warned it could see losses of at least hundreds of
millions of dollars this year.

White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow told reporters Monday the administration is "looking at" assistance to US airlines.

The companies said the grants would compensate them for reduced liquidity - net of financing - for all of 2020 attributable to the coronavirus outbreak.

Air Line Pilots Association President Joe DePete said Monday "any economic relief package must contain strong labor protections for the airline employees who have—or will—suffer financial harm."

Two people briefed on the matter said the chief executives of all of Airlines for Americas' members signed off on the request, including United, Atlas Air, Delta, American, Hawaiian Airlines, Southwest and JetBlue Airways Corp.

United said Sunday in the first two weeks of March it had 1 million fewer passengers and is currently projecting revenue in March will be $1.5 billion lower than last March. The airlines warned about the impact of a 30-day domestic ban because that would require them to repay consumers for all tickets purchased within seven days if the service cannot be provided even for non refundable tickets.

That could boost liquidity losses by $7 billion to $10 billion make it harder to obtain credit. Kudlow added that White House officials will visit the Senate to discuss options on Monday.

"It's not so much a bailout" for airlines, Kudlow told Fox Business Network, calling it liquidity and cash flow help.

"We don't see any of the airlines failing. But if they get into a cash crunch, we're going to try to help them. We're consulting with the House and Senate to see what works. And of
course the Treasury Department and the FED have enormous powers on this," Kudlow said.

United is cutting 50% of its flights in April and May, while American said it will cut 75% of international capacity. Delta is cutting 40% of its flights in the next few months.

Airlines asked the administration to rebate the excise taxes carriers paid into the Air Trust Fund this year and to repeal all federal excise taxes on tickets, cargo and fuel through the end of at least 2021.

(Source: Reuters)

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk