American Airlines says it will furlough 19,000 workers unless Congress agrees on more COVID-19 relief AAL

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American Airlines will furlough and lay off 19,000 employees on October 1, the airline said in a memo on Tuesday.

The furloughs come as the coronavirus pandemic continues to severely depress air travel demand.

Including buyouts and early retirements, American will shrink by nearly 40,000 employees compared to pre-pandemic levels.

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American Airlines will furlough up to 19,000 employees on October 1, the airline said in a memo to staff on Tuesday, unless Congress extends the CARES Act's payroll support program.

"Today is the hardest message we have had to share so far," CEO Doug Parker and airline president Robert Isom wrote in a memo to employees, seen by Business Insider.See the rest of the story at Business InsiderNOW WATCH: A cleaning expert reveals her 3-step method for cleaning your entire home quicklySee Also:Delta plans to furlough nearly 2,000 more pilots as COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc on the airline industryAmerican Airlines' new plane disinfectant works for a full week, but doesn't stop the main way COVID-19 spreadsSouthwest is turning down 2.8 billion in CARES Act aid to avoid the federal government's 'onerous' conditionsSEE ALSO: COVID-19 could eliminate 197 million travel industry jobs and wipe 5.5 trillion from the global GDP, a trade group warns

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