Airlines, public transit agencies say $1.9 trillion relief plan would prevent deep cuts, job losses
President Biden’s sweeping $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package would give airlines, airports and public transit agencies more breathing room to adjust to a new normal as the nation emerges from the global pandemic, transportation officials say.
The legislation would extend payroll support for a third time to airlines, enabling them to avoid furloughing more than 27,000 workers when the current program expires at the end of March. It also would provide $8 billion in support to U.S. airports. Transit agencies from Washington to Houston to Seattle also would benefit from $30.5 billion in grants to help make up for sharp decreases in ridership and other expenses resulting from the pandemic. Amtrak would receive about $2 billion.
The legislation still must pass the House and get Biden’s signature, which could happen this week. If approved, many in the transportation industry said Monday, the legislation would provide critical support, keeping workers on the job and off the unemployment rolls.
“What this does is finish what we started — keeping the focus of the relief on the front lines,” said Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA. “This should get us through this pandemic to where the industry is building back to demand.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/stimulus-transportation/2021/03/08/dceb4e00-802b-11eb-81db-b02f0398f49a_story.html
