Trump: 'We'll be helping the airlines' as furloughs loom

US airlines may get a lifeline from Trump

As the major U.S. airlines, still dealing with the fallout of the coronavirus, prepare to furlough thousands of workers, President Trump is ready to throw the industry a lifeline.

“We’ll be helping the airlines, you have to help the airlines, it’s a tough business always is. Airlines are a tough business in good times and we are about ready to get back to good times” said Trump on his way to Kenosha, Wis. without elaborating on specifics.

His comments follow similar remarks last week from White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, who hinted that an executive order could be becoming.

WHITE HOUSE LOOKING AT EXECUTIVE ACTION TO HALT AIRLINE FURLOUGHS, LAYOFFS: MEADOWS

Already the industry received $25 billion from the federal government in March to prevent coronavirus-related layoffs or furloughs through September.

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Ticker Security Last Change Change %
UAL UNITED AIRLINES HOLDINGS INC. 53.51 +0.84 +1.59%
LUV SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO. 27.05 -0.20 -0.75%
JBLU JETBLUE AIRWAYS CORP. 5.72 -0.19 -3.21%

Last week, American Airlines and Delta Airlines announced plans to furlough thousands of workers by October.

Ticker Security Last Change Change %
DAL DELTA AIR LINES INC. 49.88 +1.94 +4.05%
AAL AMERICAN AIRLINES GROUP INC. 14.13 +0.21 +1.51%

Work-from-home polices continue to be extended at many companies through 2021, with some such as Twitter and Zillow floating the idea that working remotely could be forever.

AMERICAN AIRLINES TO FURLOUGH 19,000 WORKERS

Ticker Security Last Change Change %
ZM ZOOM VIDEO COMMUNICATIONS INC. 61.73 +0.69 +1.13%
JETS ETF SERIES SOLUTIONS US GLOBAL JETS ETF 20.32 -0.16 -0.78%

Jim Bianco, of Bianco Research, points out the sharp rise in Zoom stock--which hit an all-time high today and is close to surpassing IBM in market value--against airline stocks, which have been pummeled.

ZOOM BOOSTS FORECAST BY 30%

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