Southwest Airlines says it won’t furlough any employees after the extension of payroll support included in the coronavirus relief package that President TrumpDonald TrumpTrump calls for end to ‘religious persecution worldwide’ on 850th anniversary of Thomas Becket’s death Michael Cohen interview sparks questions after he mentions prison friends ‘Tony Meatballs and Big Minty’ Ocasio-Cortez rails against both Democrats and Republicans who opposed ,000 direct payments MORE signed on Sunday.
U.S. airlines received $15 billion in the $900 billion package, which extended the Payroll Support Program (PSP) for the industry. Under the terms of the aid, airlines have to keep all their employees on payroll through March 31 and will have to call back any who were furloughed in October.
“The new law will provide payroll support for all Southwest Employees through March 31, 2021. Given this, we currently do not anticipate the need to conduct any furloughs or pay cuts next year,” CEO Gary Kelly told employees on Monday.
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PSP was a key provision from last spring’s CARES Act and prevented airlines from furloughs until October. Since then, American Airlines and United Airlines have furloughed 32,000 employees and Southwest warned in December that 6,800 workers were facing possible furlough if the government did not act.
Southwest has never had layoffs since it was founded 50 years ago and is among the most profitable major U.S. airlines.
Kelly thanked Sen. Roger WickerRoger Frederick WickerSouthwest Airlines says it won’t furlough workers after Trump signed relief bill Former Mississippi Gov. William Winter dies at 97 Senate GOP absences snag Trump nominees MORE (R-Miss.), and Rep. Peter DeFazioPeter Anthony DeFazioSouthwest Airlines says it won’t furlough workers after Trump signed relief bill Infrastructure? Not unless the House rethinks its offer Democrats ask GAO to study COVID-19 air travel risks MORE (D-Ore.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, for their work to secure the funds for airlines. He also acknowledged Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiSchumer to try to pass K stimulus checks bill Tuesday Rubio backs Trump’s push for ,000 direct payments House passes bill boosting stimulus checks to ,000 in bipartisan vote MORE (D-Calif.), Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellSanders to slow down NDAA veto override in bid to get vote on K checks proposal Schumer to try to pass K stimulus checks bill Tuesday Rubio backs Trump’s push for ,000 direct payments MORE (R-Ky.), Sen. Susan CollinsSusan Margaret CollinsSouthwest Airlines says it won’t furlough workers after Trump signed relief bill Bipartisan lawmakers urge Trump to either sign or immediately veto coronavirus relief bill GOP senator on Trump pardons: ‘This is rotten to the core’ MORE (R-Maine), and Treasury Secretary Steven MnuchinSteven MnuchinHouse passes bill boosting stimulus checks to ,000 in bipartisan vote Questions and answers on COVID-19 relief package Southwest Airlines says it won’t furlough workers after Trump signed relief bill MORE for their work to pass the package.
“I need to stress that dozens of government leaders are worthy of praise; however, these individuals deserve individual recognition,” he said.