Airlines Urge End to 29-Day Shutdown

The nearly month-long federal shutdown has forced thousands of air-traffic controllers and other aviation workers to work without pay—over 13,000 controllers have been affected, staffing is down in some areas by as much as 50%, and the FAA has roughly 3,800 fewer fully certified controllers than its target—creating acute financial strain and operational pressure. Vice President J.D. Vance and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that if the shutdown persists into Thanksgiving, the holiday travel period could be a “disaster,” with higher absences, longer security lines, widespread delays, cancellations and even airport or checkpoint closures. Major carriers and CEOs, including Delta, United, American and Southwest, have publicly urged Congress to pass a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government so essential workers can be paid, while airlines report rising costs and service impacts; Delta estimates losses under $1 million per day so far. Delta has temporarily closed some premium TSA lanes at JFK and LAX as staffing is reallocated, and controllers report mandatory overtime, second jobs, missed paychecks and increasing sick calls. Industry groups, unions and officials are pleading for a bipartisan resolution to avoid escalating safety and reliability risks across the national airspace as holiday travel approaches.