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US does not think airline industry needs bailout, has access to cash

By Thomson Reuters May 2, 2026 | 9:08 AM

WASHINGTON, May 2 (Reuters) – U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said ​Saturday he ‌does not think the government needs to bail out low-cost airlines ‌that ​have sought $2.5 ⁠billion in government ⁠relief because of high jet fuel prices.

“I would say that ​at this point, I don’t ⁠think it’s ⁠necessary. They do ​have access to cash. ​If they want to ‌come to the U.S. government, we would be a ⁠lender of last resort. If they can find dollars ⁠in ‌the private ⁠markets — I think ​that’s ‌better for them,” ​Duffy said ⁠at a press conference at Newark airport.

(Reporting by David Shepardson, Editing by William ​Maclean)