This year has been tough for airlines — the toughest on record, many say. Without new aid from Congress, the expiration of the CARES Act furlough restriction put an end to a summer of relative security, and several airlines began telling workers to go home until they can afford to bring them back.

The Regional Airline Association told the Washington Examiner that roughly 10,000 employees among its member airlines have been furloughed. American Airlines has furloughed 19,000 of its workers, and United Airlines has furloughed 13,000. At Alaska Airlines, the number is 532.