Release #: 21.10
February 11, 2021

House Proposes Extension of Successful Payroll Support Program

McLEAN, Va.—The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) issued the following statement today praising the House Committee on Financial Services for supporting an extension of the Payroll Support Program through September 30, 2021. In markup, the Committee proposed a $14 billion extension of the successful program with important furlough protections that will keep tens of thousands of aviation workers on company payroll and off unemployment as intended by this worker-first program.

“ALPA would like to extend our appreciation to Chairwoman Maxine Waters for her dedication to helping the airline industry continue to navigate these unprecedented times.

“From the onset of the pandemic, U.S. airline pilots and crewmembers have been on the job transporting medical personnel to outbreak hotspots and keeping global supply chains moving to provide medical supplies. Airline pilots have done their part not only to assist this nation through the pandemic, but also to help our industry weather the economic storm.

“However, it is critical to plan now for a swift return to air travel when the economy recovers—and it will recover. If airline pilots are to lose their jobs and fall behind in training in the interim, our industry won’t be able to simply flip a switch and bring highly trained pilots and other aviation workers back online overnight. It takes time—and money—to retrain them and prepare them to maintain the high standards of safety that our nation demands of its airline professionals.

“Extending the Payroll Support Program through September 30 would help prevent the additional financial devastation that would result from the aviation industry being forced to furlough tens of thousands of workers.

“ALPA urges Congress to swiftly pass this bill to protect frontline aviation workers and stabilize the airline industry.”

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents over 59,000 pilots at 35 U.S. and Canadian airlines. Visit the ALPA website at alpa.org or follow us on Twitter @ALPAPilots.

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CONTACT: ALPA Media, 703-481-4440 or Media@alpa.org