Airline industry calls for major cash injection from feds amid COVID-19 pandemic

BY MIKE HALL AND CORMAC MAC SWEENEY

Posted Mar 20, 2020 10:02 am PDT

Last Updated Mar 20, 2020 at 10:59 am PDT

With Air Canada laying off thousands of workers amid airlines paring down operations during the coronavirus pandemic, the industry is calling for a major cash injection from the federal government, warning tens of thousands of jobs hang in the balance.

“Right now, we are getting no volumes, government has asked people not to travel. The consequences are dire for many airlines,” said John McKenna, president Air Transport Association of Canada.

Unless there’s significant federal cash soon, at least a dozen small and medium airlines are in danger of going bankrupt, he added, putting as many as 25,000 jobs at risk.

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