American Airlines aircraft.(Photo by Alex Tai/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) American Airlines will begin furloughing 19,000 employees on Thursday after lawmakers and the White House failed to agree on a broad pandemic-relief package that includes more federal aid for airlines.CEO Doug Parker said Wednesday night that if Washington comes up with a deal for $25 billion in airline aid “over the next few days,” American will reverse the furloughs and recall the employees.The move by American represents the first — and likely the largest — involuntary jobs cut across the industry in coming days.
United Airlines has indicated it could furlough nearly 12,000 workers.Airline employees and executives made 11th-hour appeals this week to.