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American Airlines on Thursday announced plans to suspend flights to 15 U.S. airports in October, as travel demand remains low due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Congress has been mulling over whether to give airlines $ 25 billion in additional wage support that would keep tens of thousands of airline workers at work for another six months and expand requirements for weeks. minimum service.
American said it would cancel just over 700 flights in October to and from those 15 airports, but warned it may make further cuts or may reconsider whether Congress provides further assistance.
“This is the first step as American continues to assess its network and plans additional schedule changes in the coming weeks,” the airline said.
The debate over air assistance was stalled as Congress struggled to reach agreement on a broader assistance program for coronaviruses.
Some lawmakers believe Congress and the White House may not reach a deal until September.
Major U.S. airlines that received portions of $ 25 billion in payroll assistance were required by the U.S. Department of Transportation to maintain a minimum number of flights until September 30, but the government could choose to extend these requirements. American received $ 5.8 billion in payroll assistance.
Several airlines have privately warned lawmakers they would be forced to suspend service to some small unassisted airports.
American will stop flights to Del Rio, Texas; Dubuque, Iowa; Florence, South Carolina; Greenville, North Carolina; Huntington, West Virginia; Joplin, Missouri; Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, Michigan; Lake Charles, Louisiana; New Haven, Connecticut; New Windsor, New York; Roswell, New Mexico; Sioux City, Iowa; Springfield, Illinois; Stillwater, Oklahoma and Williamsport, Pennsylvania starting October 7.
The travel and transportation industries, including hotels, restaurants, entertainment venues, transit, and the Amtrak Passenger Railroad, are seeking significant government assistance.
The US Travel Association said Wednesday that “Travel companies and workers cannot wait until September or after the election. Congress must meet immediately to pass meaningful legislation ”.
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