American Airlines About To Furlough 25,000 Workers

American Airlines announced that it will shortly be sending out furlough notices to some 25,000 workers, because the government’s payroll assistance program is scheduled to expire in October and the demand for air travel is slowing again as the pandemic resurgence takes its toll. If the government program is not renewed, American expects to be seriously overstaffed and will need to release people. The airline now has over 130,000 employees. Reuters reported that “among different work groups, warnings are being sent to 2,500 pilots or about 18% of the total, nearly 10,000 flight attendants or 37% of the total, and 3,200 mechanics or 22% of the total.