⁍ U.S. airlines are pleading for a second $25 billion bailout that would protect jobs for another six months.

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⁍ The impact of the coronavirus on travel may cost as many as 46 million jobs globally.

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⁍ Airlines are operating about half their 2019 flying schedules and suffering a 68% decline in passenger volumes.

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– With the current payroll tax break set to expire at midnight and tens of thousands of airline furloughs set to begin tomorrow, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is urging Congress to reach a bipartisan deal on a $25 billion aid package for airlines affected by the H1N1 virus. Talks are underway with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Mnuchin plans to talk to chief executives of airlines later today about the progress, Reuters reports. If a deal is reached, American Airlines CEO Doug Parker told CNN that he would delay the furloughs, which are due to begin tomorrow, and said he was “really encouraged” by the ongoing talks. Pelosi has said she hopes to have a coronavirus aid deal with the White House this week, but the prospects of a comprehensive bill passing before Thursday are dim, industry officials said, and a quicker standalone bill for airlines would face the challenge of unanimous support. Mnuchin said he did not think a standalone measure to avert airline layoffs was likely. Weeks of intense airline lobbying has won over many but not all Washington lawmakers, while also drawing attention to the plight of other pandemic-hit industries as the crisis persists. US airline officials said earlier this week there were no plans in place to halt the furloughs without aid by Oct. 1, and it was unclear what would happen if a deal passes afterwards. Thousands of employees have already been instructed to return their badges. “I’ve poured every ounce of my energy into passing this extension,” said one worker. “I don’t have a Plan B.”