Major U.S. airlines have warned that they will lay off tens of thousands of workers in October if the sector’s wage support program expires, increasing the chances of destruction for many workers and their families.
Airline cyclists will enter an economy still plagued by the coronavirus pandemic and where weekly unemployment rates remain above 1m. The aviation industry is among several where major employers have announced plans to implement massive job cuts in the coming months.
Among the largest airlines in the U.S., thousands of workers have already taken voluntary severance agreements, early retirement or voluntary severance of deviations as part of efforts to reduce labor to reduce expected furloughs and layoffs in October.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in the air transport sector fell from about 512,000 workers in March 2020 to about 380,000 in June 2020.
“It causes a lot of stress to people,” said Matt, a five-year-old plane who asked to keep her employer and last name anonymous for fear of retaliation. “Worried about if I’ll still have my job, how long will I be out there, what will I do in the meantime when I get fit?”
These concerns are added to stress for workers who are still on the verge of traveling amid fears over coronavirus and problems with passengers trying to avoid subsequent mask mandates on flights.
“Luckily I did not receive a foul letter, but I would be crazy to think I was untouchable or could not affect my airline,” said Mitra, another flight attendant. ‘Earlier in the pandemic, I flew two people from Orlando to Charlotte at one time on a jet for 186 people. Things start to pick up, but with that come other worries, the more people you are, the higher the exposure period and the more likely your coronavirus will catch. ”
According to the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, about 1,000 flight attendants in the US have tested positive for coronavirus. The union is pushing for the Cares Act airline payment protection program to be extended until March 2021, as only about 20% of air travel returned.
Globally, the aviation industry sees an estimated $ 84 billion in losses in 2020, while several U.S. airports expect further decline as cases of coronavirus in various parts of the country have climbed since the end of June 2020.
American Airlines has warned it could lay off up to 20,000 workers. According to a spokesman for American Airlines, “more than 41,000 team members have opted for an early retirement, a reduced work schedule or a partially paid leave”, with numbers not yet available to employees who opted for extra leave and early programs opened in mid-July .
“Refugee companies with less than four years seniority are at high risk of furloughs. There is no predetermined amount of time for length of time out. It’s very touching, “said a pilot at American Airlines based in North Carolina who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation.
United Airlines said in early July 2020 that it could lay off 36,000 employees, about half of its workforce in the US.
Nearly 30% of employees, about 17,000, at Southwest have taken voluntary retirement as an extended extension because the airline is trying to prevent layoffs and furloughs.
At JetBlue, more than 60% of its workforce, about 20,000 employees, voluntarily retired to reduce furloughs in October.
Spirit Airlines expects to process between 20% and 30% of its frontline employees in October, of its workforce of about 9,000 employees.
Alaska Airlines intends to cut work by the end of 2020 with 7,000 employees, while 30% of its 23,000 employees are volunteering for a leave of absence.
Smaller U.S. airlines are expected to make layoffs in October, including Hawaiian Airlines announcing the airline, currently employing more than 7,000 workers, is likely to be 15% to 25% smaller next summer.
Delta Air Lines managed to avoid plans to carry far-reaching noises and layoffs so far because of 20% of its workforce that took voluntary pensions.
“I took the one-year voluntary farewell, but we received an email stating that we should all report for work by August 1,” said a Delta Air Lines disaster agent in Texas who asked to remain anonymous. “Delta has said several times that they will not overwork or lay off workers, but every other airline does, and the air traffic and flights are simply not there. There is no transparency and Delta tells us nothing. ”
Dan Sullivan, an airline agent at Delta Air Lines in Minneapolis, Minnesota, 31, took early retirement because of his wife’s support and the savings they have made to replace him.
“We have been asked to sacrifice so many times over the decades. Our lives have been turned upside down so many times, ”Sullivan said.
A Delta Air Lines spokeswoman told the Guardian: “The hope is to minimize or prevent birds altogether.” They did not comment on workers being returned from voluntary retirement, but cited more than 17,000 Delta employees taking packages early or retiring, which went into effect at the end of July 2020.
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