⁍ American Airlines and United Airlines began laying off 32,000 workers after a deadline passed with no new help from Washington.

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⁍ Late Thursday, the U.S. Senate adjourned until Monday evening, suggesting no action on any airline assistance was near.

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⁍ U.S. airlines are collectively burning about $5 billion of cash a month as passenger traffic has stalled at around 30% of 2019 levels.

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– American Airlines and United Airlines began laying off 32,000 workers after a deadline passed with no new help from Washington, but told staff they would reverse this if lawmakers reach a deal on COVID-19 relief. Late Thursday, the US Senate adjourned until Monday evening, suggesting no action on any airline assistance was near. US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin spoke for 50 minutes Thursday afternoon but ‘distance on key areas remain,’ a spokesman for Pelosi said. White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany on Thursday urged Congress to quickly pass standalone legislation to aid airlines. US airlines are collectively burning about $5 billion of cash a month as passenger traffic has stalled at around 30% of 2019. They have argued for another $25 billion in federal payroll aid to maintain their workforce and meet demand as the economy rebounds. Without the money, flight networks could further shrink, hampering their revenue power and shortening their liquidity runway. Between voluntary and involuntary furloughs, major US airlines’ workforce will shrink by at least 25% in October. “Airlines quite correctly have been bulking up on cash … but to be 25% smaller, best case, how are you going to handle the debt service?” asked airline consultant Mike Boyd. Reuters reports that some airline officials think if Congress cannot reach agreement now on a broad coronavirus relief package, it may include funding for airlines when it takes up the issue again in the coming months.