US government agrees on $25bn bailout for airlines as pandemic halts travel

The US government agreed a $25bn bailout for the beleaguered airline industry on Tuesday as the coronavirus pandemic brings travel to a virtual standstill. Passenger airline companies are receiving direct aid as part of the $2.2tn Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (Cares Act) economic relief package passed last month in order to allow them to continue paying salaries and benefits to employees in the coming months. Details of the aid package are expected later on Tuesday. With the coronavirus now spread across more than 100 countries and every continent except for Antarctica, air travel has all but ground to a halt.