Delta, United and other airlines strike deal for federal coronavirus loans

Five more airlines have reached agreements with the Treasury Department for the terms of billions in federal loans to help them weather the coronavirus pandemic.

Covid-19 has devastated demand for air travel and sent U.S. carriers to their first losses in years.

Delta, United, JetBlue, Southwest and Alaska have signed letters of intent for the terms of the loans, the Treasury Department said Tuesday. Last week, it announced that American, Frontier, Hawaiian, SkyWest and Spirit had also struck agreements for the aid. The CARES Act, a $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief package passed in March, set aside $25 billion in loans for U.S. passenger airlines.

Airlines are grappling with spikes in coronavirus cases around the country as well as continued travel restrictions that will limit demand for flights.

United told reporters last week that demand had started to “flatten out” recently after a resurgence in the early spring and summer.

“The major U.S. airlines play a vital role in our economy and are critical to domestic and international travel and commerce,” the Treasury Department said. “These airlines are among the companies most heavily affected by the disruptions to social and economic activity caused by the pandemic.” 

The Treasury Department didn’t disclose the terms of each potential loan or the amounts and the agreements don’t necessarily mean that the carriers will tap them. Delta in April said it is eligible for a $4.6 billion loan while United in May said it could access $4.5 billion.

Airlines also have started receiving $25 billion in federal payroll grants that prohibit carriers from laying off or cutting the pay rates of their employees through Sept. 30. Airlines including Delta and United have warned that employees may start receiving as early as this month government-mandated advance notices about potential furloughs.