Two Texas-based airlines are facing a critical deadline in one week that will determine whether tens of thousands of employees will be laid off.
Executives at Fort Worth-based American Airlines say they need billions of dollars in federal relief aid by October 1st in order to avoid letting their employees go. American anticipates furloughing up to 19-thousand workers in October with an additional 12-thousand employees taking leave.
Dallas-based Southwest Airlines says they still need federal aid, but will not need to lay off any workers since one in four have already opted to take voluntary leave or early retirement. The airline industry was given 25-billion-dollars in coronavirus relief aid by Congress this spring if they did not cut staff until September 30th.
Photo: Getty Images