In a move that could be followed by other airlines, American has warned that it may cut service to as many as thirty small cities when the current round of CARES Act aid to the airline ends. The act requires maintenance of service as a condition for receiving the aid.
Under the original CARES Act, the airlines received funds to keep employees on payroll and maintain service. Under the act, FAA could have required longer continuation of service, but picked September 30 as the date they would hold the airlines to. Congress and the President have not acted on bills to continue the aid along with many other forms of pandemic relief.
American’s acknowledgement that it will cut service once it is free to doesn’t have a confirmed list of cities attached to it, and there is still hope that the aid might be renewed. But if it isn’t, expect lists to appear, and expect the other airlines that have been receiving the aid to join in.
