>Rather than requesting bailouts and rule changes, imo they should be selling that stock to raise capital.

This strategy has already been kneecapped by plummeting share prices, and trying to sell massive amounts of shares right now would only lead to even further diminishing marginal returns.

Airlines are a crucial national infrastructure, and they know this, which is why they've been incentivized not to give a shit about recession resistance. Bailouts are fine, as long as they are coupled with corrective action. Those who accept them should be unable to buy back stock in the future, and required to build up the capital reserves necessary to weather another pandemic.