Catherwood LibraryILR School

Responding to the lobbying efforts of major airlines, industry organizations, and airline workers' unions, members of both parties on Capitol Hill and of the Bush Administration are sending messages of varying degrees of subtlety that federal aid may be in the offing. With several airlines already in or on the verge of bankruptcy proceedings (see WIT's for Feb. 5, 2003, and Dec. 10, 2002), and attempts by airlines to squeeze savings out of workers' pay, contracts, and pensions causing major labor disputes (see WIT's for March 18, March 3, Feb. 14, and Jan. 31, 2003), both management and labor were outspoken in their calls for aid. Politicians have made clear, however, that with many of the industry's current problems more the result of mismanagement and overcapacity than terrorism, war, and recession, the aid being considered is unlikely to approach anything close to the amount needed to prevent further bankruptcies and massive job losses.