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Photographer: David Gray / Bloomberg
Photographer: David Gray / Bloomberg
The pandemic relief package negotiated by congressional leaders includes $ 15 billion to restore payroll refunds to airlines that expired two months ago, according to two people familiar with the legislation.
The legislation is similar to provisions in a previous pandemic aid package that expired on October 1, which prohibited leaves and came with other restrictions.
The tentative deal reached Sunday also includes $ 1 billion for airline contractor payrolls, $ 10 billion for state highways, $ 2 billion for airports and airport concessionaires, $ 2 billion for private bus industries, school buses and ferries, and $ 1 billion for Amtrak.
Another $ 14 billion is earmarked for transit agencies to keep services running for essential workers and others using the train, bus, paratransit and other forms of mass transit, according to a Democratic aide.
The omnibus spending package that is used to move the relief money will also include provisions to reform the way aircraft are certified by the Federal Aviation Administration, according to another person. The House is expected to vote on the package on Monday, followed by the Senate.
The House passed a Federal Aviation Administration safety measure this year prompted by the grounding of Boeing Co.’s 737 Max, but a similar attempt in the Senate has failed to pass. By including a compromise version of the bills in the mandatory budget and aid packages, it can become law this year.
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Carriers will attempt to bring workers back, although the period without assistance has made it challenging, the trade group Airlines for America said last week as negotiations on the aid package were underway.
Airline losses
Airlines are losing billions of dollars as a result of a sharp drop in travel due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Passenger counts fell after a brief spike around the Thanksgiving holiday, but are picking up a bit as the Christmas holiday period begins, according to the Transportation Security Administration.
Over the past seven days, airlines carried about 35% of the number of passengers during the equivalent week last year, the lowest year-on-year comparison since September, according to TSA data.
While lawmakers from both parties have called for more support for aviation for months, attempts to extend the program failed while congressional leaders were unable to agree on provisions for a broader aid bill.
