Prominent House Republicans immediately
trashed the proposal.
Reports that Congress and the Trump
administration were bridging their differences
and nearing a deal on a massive stimulus bill
sent airline stocks and the broader market
soaring on Tuesday. American Airlines gained
36%, United Airlines rose 26% and Delta
gained 21%. All three remain down more
than 50% for the year, however.
U.S. airlines have already cut most of their
international flights and have announced
plans to reduce service within the U.S. by up
to 40% in April. Those drastic planned cutbacks
in service now seem hopelessly optimistic,
given the few people who continue to fly.
About 8,500 U.S. flights were canceled Tuesday,
according to tracking service FlightAware. In
some cases, airlines consolidated flights to
avoid flying empty planes.
United Airlines canceled 51% of its flights,
American dropped 46% of its schedule,
and Delta scrapped 38% by late afternoon,
according to FlightAware. Southwest
canceled 15%.
Fewer flights have left fewer people for TSA
officers to screen. As recently as March 8, TSA
screened more than 2 million travelers, but the
numbers have dropped nearly every day since
then. There are also fewer screeners.
The TSA said 24 screeners and six other
employees at 14 U.S. airports have tested
positive for the new coronavirus in the past
two weeks. The most recent confirmed cases
were at Dallas-Fort Worth International