The U.S. government has released additional funds to help major airlines and small carriers to weather the impact of the pandemic.
On Saturday, April 25, the U.S. Treasury Department has released a US$9.5 billion [AU$14.6 billion] supplementary budget from the Payroll Protection Program (PPP) to distribute to all U.S. airlines, citing that the sector may need more due to massive dive in air travel demand.
Ten major airlines and 83 smaller carriers benefited from the program
The extra funds brought the total budget for the airline sector to $12.4 billion, according to the U.S. Treasury. As of this writing, the government has spent grants to 83 smaller carriers and ten large airlines.
According to Reuters, the Congress endorsed $25 billion in grants assigned to passenger air carriers as payroll assistance. The $19.2 billion budget will be given to America’s largest airlines, namely:
- Delta Airlines
- Southwest Airlines Co.
- American Airlines Group Inc.
- United Airlines Holdings Inc.
The Treasury, on the one hand, requires all major airlines to comply with all its conditions. Among them are carriers should pay its staff in full and must not dismiss any employees until September 30.
The said companies are banned from paying dividends or purchasing stock back as well. They also face restrictions on executive compensation.
Bleak outlook for some airlines despite assistance
The U.S. Treasury also granted airlines to receive more than $100 million in assistance, with a 30% payback in low interest for over ten years. The department will also award 50% of the fund at first and will release the remaining half in July.
Despite all the grants and loans, airlines may still need more funds as air travel demand plunged by 95% and shows no signs of improvement.
The chief executive of SkyWest Inc., Russel “Chip” Childs shared that the airline company’s future seems uncertain. Childs said in his email to Reuters:
“There is a very high possibility that our airline could be a smaller airline firm by the end of the year.”
SkyWest will also receive a total of $438 million in payroll assistance.
U.S. Treasury looking to support cargo carriers and airport contractors
Reportedly, the U.S. Treasury Department is still reviewing how to give $3 billion in grants to airport contractors such as caterers and $4 billion to cargo carriers.
According to the department, cargo carriers that collected $50 million or less of payroll aid are “not required to give financial instruments as fitting compensation” for support. The same condition goes to airport contractors as well, which received $37.5 million or less.
The department also released the application form for companies on Saturday, which is considered essential to maintaining national security.
Additional funds will also be provided continuously to approved applicants on a rolling basis.
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