The only airline at Punta Gorda Airport just furloughed 100 pilots

FOR A LOT OF VERY MANAGEABLEAIRPORT IN OUR AREA ..

BUTTONIGHT, SOME FOLKS ARE WORRIED.THANKS FOR STAYING WITH US FORLOCAL COVERAGE AT 6:30.

I’PATRICK NOLAN.AND I’M JANE MONREAL.

ALLEGIANTHAS ANNOUNCED IT’S FURLOUGHING100 PILOTS.

ROB MANCH SPOKEWITH THE AIRLINE AND WITH THEPILOT’S UNION TO FIND OUT WHATTHIS MEANS FOR YOU.

HE’S INPUNTA GORDA TONIGHT.

ROB?NTRO:Allegiant Air tells me it hasbeen waiting for Congress topass another stimulus package tokeep employees on the payroll.But last week, the airlinecouldn’t wait any longer, andthose layoffs could eventualhave an IMPACT on small airportslike this one.PKG:Airlines like Allegiant havebeen pushing for another 25billion dollars from CongresThe CEO’s of several airlineseven made the trip to the WhiteHouse back on September 17th.Doug Parker, American AirlinesCEO: "We’re just here to pleawith everyone involved to get toa COVID relief package."(7s)But that relief package nevercame, and on October 1st, thesupport from the CARES Actexpired.I reached out to AllegiantAirlines, and the companyresponded saying quote"Unfortunately, the arc of thevirus is still having a negativeimpact on demand and, like otherairlines, Allegiant was forcedto furlough.

However, we, alongwith our pilots’ union, remainhopeful that congressionalleaders will provide additionasupport."But that hope may have beendashed on Tuesday.President Trump announced in aTweet quote "I have instructedmy representatives to stopnegotiating until after thelection."The sticking point is about thesize of the relief package.Democrats want it to be 2 point4 trillion, while Republicanswant it to be 1 point 6.Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of theHouse: "We came down a trilliondollars.

We asked them to go ua trillion dollars.

Instead thwent down."(7But I also spoke with thepilot’s union, which blamesAllegiant for the furloughs.It says quote ""We had a verbalagreement in which we were goingto extend the timeline in orderto delay furloughs, but at t11th hour the company reneged."TAG:So what does all this mean fyou?Well, Allegiant says schedulechanges are still beingdetermined, but it says thefurloughs will have a minimalimpact for now.So if you already have a flightbooked here in Punta Gor