Action Alert: Calls Needed NOW to Press Senate for Action on Airport Coronavirus Relief

• Communicate with your Senators that airport relief MUST be part of the stimulus package being assembled to address coronavirus.

• Tell them what is happening at your airport and let them know that you need help NOW. 

• Tell them that we can't afford to wait weeks and possibly months to address critical airport operating needs, bond payments, and other challenges.

• Tell them that while airline assistance is critical, an airline loan program will not help airports pay their bills and meet operational needs.

• Please communicate these messages with your House member as soon as possible also.

• Even if you've already weighed in with your elected officials, please do so again.

Update

While things remain very fluid in Washington regarding the next package of coronavirus relief, we are picking up troubling signals that our ask for $10 billion in assistance to airports - and many other immediate requests for help - may take a backseat to other items as the Senate scrambles to put a package together before leaving town for the next few weeks or possibly longer.

With the House out of session, all eyes are on the Senate now, where Republican leaders have been in discussions with the White House and Treasury Secretary Mnuchin on a $1 trillion-plus package that could include $50 billion in loans to airlines with numerous strings attached; $150 billion in loans to "critical sectors of the economy experiencing severe financial distress due to COVID-19"; $500 billion in direct payments to individuals; and $300 billion in small business loans. Senate Democrats are working on their own $750 billion plan that will ultimately have to be negotiated with Republicans. House Democrats are assembling yet another plan as well.

At this point, we are very concerned that the immediate relief package being negotiated in the Senate DOES NOT include airport relief or grants to any other industries affected by the crisis. If lawmakers are content to immediately pass a measure along the lines outlined above WITHOUT airport relief, it could be weeks or months before we have another shot at getting resources out to airports.

Things are moving incredibly quickly, so we urge you to take action NOW to weigh in with your Senators and House members as an airport, with your state aviation associations, with your mayors, or as part of any other group that can reinforce this critical, urgent message.