Time’s up. It is a very sad and dark day for aviation

It is D-Day for the US airline industry as at the stroke of midnight yesterday the US Payroll Support Program (CARES Act) expired. As it did so, airlines across America had no alternative but to send out the already prepared letters of furlough and layoff notices to avoid risking falling into administration. American Airlines CEO Doug Parker sent a letter to employees Wednesday evening announcing the airline would begin to furlough some 19,000 employees on Thursday writing: “I am extremely sorry we have reached this outcome,” wrote Parker. “It is not what you all deserve.” At the same time the