Why Are Top Airline CEOs Donating Ahead of the 2020 Election to This Political Group?
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Airlines spend so much time massaging their public images every time they face a crisis. It's important to remember that for all the woke posturing from these brands, their leaders still often back the leaders more likely to give them tax breaks than support liberal social causes.
With 13 months until the 2020 U.S. elections, leaders in travel are beginning to pick sides in what will be a pivotal election for the country.
United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz, Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly, and American Airlines CEO Doug Parker have each donated to Responsibility and Freedom Work PAC, a political action committee with a track record of supporting Republican senatorial campaigns including that of disgraced Alabama politician Roy Moore.
The group is nominally associated with Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, according to watchdog group OpenSecrets, but an examination of its spending finds countrywide support for some of the Republican party's most polarizing figures.
Here is a breakdown of the donations so far from three of aviation's top leaders.
2019 Donations to Responsibility and Freedom Work PAC
Doug Parker, American Airlines
$5,000
Oscar Munoz, United Airlines
$2,500
Gary Kelly, Southwest Airlines
$2,500
Source: FEC
Sharon L. Pinkerton, Airlines for America's senior vice president
