Do the Math: Bailout Number Two Isn’t about Workers

First, it is worth noting that in spite of the first bailout, the largest carriers have already separated from 30 percent of their nonunion staff. This new bailout will do nothing to bring these jobs back and, therefore, isn’t about preserving old employment levels.

Second, if 35,000 US commercial airline jobs are indeed at risk, then a bailout of $25 billion works out to about $715,000 per job saved for six months, an annualized run rate of over $1.4 million per airline job.

Third, the math does not support a claim that the bailout is about job support. If one were to assume that the 35,000 workers have annualized salaries of $100,000, then supporting their wages for six months would require only $1.75 billion, not $25 billion. In other words, the airlines are demanding more than 10 times more than is necessary to support 35,000 employees.

Furthermore, as mentioned, Southwest Airlines has announced that it won’t be furloughing any employees, at least through the end of the year. However, under this second bailout, that airline would receive another $3.3 billion.
https://www.mercatus.org/publications/corporate-welfare/economic-case-against-second-airline-payroll-bailout