Doug Parker: Republicans Promised To Break Ranks, Support Airline Subsidies In Biden’s Stimulus

man speaking on microphone
Mar 14 2021

Americans may be on the verge of receiving $1400 in Biden Bucks, but U.S. commercial airlines are getting $14 billion – including $3 billion for American Airlines. And according to the CEO of American, who has spent much of the last year working Capitol Hill, Republicans were ready to break ranks with their party to ensure that subsidies would flow to the airline industry.

In fact, from Parker’s telling at an internal meeting with employees, the Republican Party may not have tried to remove these subsidies because it would have caused some of their members to defect and create bipartisan support for part of the legislation.

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Cancun, Cozumel and Tulum Have A New Tourist Tax That’s Not Included In Your Ticket

hotel by beach
Mar 13 2021

Starting April 1 all international visitors over age 15 to the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, which includes Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, Cozumel and Tulum, will have to pay a new tourism tax of 224 pesos (US$10.81). Visitors from Belize get a 10% discount.

The tax is enforced upon departure. It isn’t included when you buy your airline tickets, making it an extra hassle apart from the cost.

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Brilliant Way To Board A Plane Solves Social Distancing – And Gate Lice

Mar 12 2021

An airline boarding process video has gone viral – it’s been viewed nearly 4 million times on TikTok and been reposted several times on Instagram. The reason the video has drawn so much attention is because it’s a boarding process most people have never seen before. It’s socially distanced and orderly, and it involves moving blue lights projected on the ground that seem to force passengers to behave the way they’re supposed to.

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SCOOP: While American Airlines Prepared To Furlough Thousands Of Workers, Management Got Raises

Mar 12 2021

At the beginning of February American Airlines sent out 13,000 WARN Act notices letting employees know they might be furloughed at the beginning of April. At the same time American was preparing to provide widespread across-the-board raises to management.

View From The Wing has learned that American provided Level 5 (manager) employees and above. A third taxpayer bailout stopped the furloughs, but taxpayers will now be picking up the tab for raises.

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