New York (CNN Business) In a memo to employees on Wednesday, American Airlines (AAL)' top two executives said the company will issue notices to 25,000 employees that they face potential furloughs on October 1. "We hope to reduce the actual number of furloughs significantly through enhanced leave and early-out programs for represented workgroups, which we are announcing today," the memo said. The federal bailout for the airline industry barred layoffs, involuntary furloughs or pay cuts for employees . On Wednesday, the two American Airlines executives also said the carrier supports a union-led effort to lobby Congress to extend the CARES Act relief money — which is set to expire at the end of September — through March 2021. They note the extended timeline is necessary due to the "much longer impact of the pandemic than was anticipated when the CARES Act was enacted."

Source: CNN July 15, 2020 22:30 UTC