government aid

“I think we need to squash the whole thing and start over,” said Kempisty.

Some small and mid-size airlines are filing for bankruptcy, or going out of business. Lufthansa is a major airline and it too is on the ropes.

Winter is a cold period for airlines’ bottom lines. Throw in COVID-19 challenges and airlines face a difficult road to next year. That is why they are knocking on doors for help.

Governments are taking equity stakes in airlines or putting conditions on them for aid. Cathay Pacific, a big passenger-cargo combination carrier, and Austrian Airlines are two of the latest to get a helping hand.

Airlines are in a no-win situation. They need money now to keep from going under but know that debt payments will make it more difficult to make ends meet in the years to come.

Governments must support vital supply chains. A big part of that is for all branches and levels of government to put aside partisanship and petty bickering and work for the good of the nation and its people.

United Airlines is getting $9.5 billion in U.S. government aid, but it still needs more money to stay afloat so it’s selling stock and borrowing.