Release #: 20.24
September 22, 2020

ALPA Statement on Air Carrier Worker Support Extension Act of 2020


MCLEAN, Va.—The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) issued the following statement after Sens. Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced the Air Carrier Worker Support Extension Act of 2020 which would extend the airline worker Payroll Support Program (PSP) through March 2021:

 “For the tens of thousands of airline workers who have already received furlough notices starting on October 1, an extension of the CARES Act Payroll Support Program is necessary to keeping them from being put out on the streets and in the unemployment line.

“As the world’s largest airline pilot union, ALPA members, along with our families, friends, and the flying public, have been strongly advocating for a clean extension of this vital funding package. Through these collective efforts, more than 300,000 letters were sent to lawmakers encouraging them to protect pilot jobs by bringing economic relief and stability to our industry.

“A strong bipartisan, bicameral consensus has emerged in support of legislation to make certain that frontline aviation workers will be able to keep their jobs and keep our skies safe.

“We appreciate that Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker and Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Susan Collins recognize that time is running out for airline workers and have introduced a freestanding extension of the PSP to prevent massive layoffs and disruptions to the U.S. airline industry.

“ALPA implores Congress to move legislation to extend the PSP by any means possible before October 1.”

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents nearly 63,000 pilots at 35 U.S. and Canadian airlines. Visit the ALPA website at alpa.org or follow us on Twitter @WeAreALPA.

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