Airline executives before Congress on Wednesday over federal bailout – The Washington Post

This year, committee chairwoman Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) raised concerns about “airlines seeking to reduce the size of their workforce by encouraging employees to accept early retirements, voluntary furloughs, buyouts, and leaves of absence,” even as a pilot shortage loomed. Cantwell said staffing shortages disrupted travel and ran counter to the “objective and spirit” of the Payroll Support Program — harming consumers in the process.