American Airlines has joined Delta Air Lines in publicly urging Congress to end the government shutdown, warning that continued strain on the aviation system will soon impact travelers and airline operations alike.
American Airlines Calls On Congress To End Government Shutdown As Travel System Strains
As the shutdown continues into its second month, the ripple effects across the U.S. air travel network are becoming more pronounced. Thousands of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers, air traffic controllers, and customs officers remain unpaid, even as they continue to work mandatory shifts to keep the skies safe.
Now, American Airlines, the largest carrier by fleet size, is calling for the government to reopen before the system begins to buckle under pressure.
American Airlines, among others, has strongly urged Congress and the Administration to immediately end the government shutdown and restore stability to the aviation system. But its strongest statement yet came from AA after CEO Robert Isom met with Trump administration officials at the White House yesterday.
“American Airlines is grateful for Secretary Duffy’s leadership and for all the air traffic controllers, TSA officers, and CBP officers who continue to ensure safe travel for our customers – even as these professionals go unpaid during the government shutdown. It’s unacceptable that these public servants are working without pay. Congress needs to reach a bipartisan agreement to reopen the government as quickly as possible to pay our air traffic controller, TSA, and CBP colleagues. The quickest way to end this shutdown and get these workers paid is by passing a clean continuing resolution (CR). A prolonged shutdown will lead to more delays and cancellations and the American people, especially during the busy holiday season, deserve better.”
Mounting Pressure On Washington
American’s statement follows similar remarks from Delta Air Lines earlier this week, which warned that TSA staffing shortages and controller absences were already affecting operations. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has confirmed that controller delays have spiked in recent days, with nearly half of all flight delays tied to understaffing. Meanwhile, TSA agents continue to call out at higher rates as the shutdown drags on without pay.
For the airline industry, which depends on a complex web of federal services, from customs screening to flight routing, the shutdown poses both operational and safety concerns. American, like Delta, is now signaling that the patience of the aviation community is wearing thin.
While political leaders remain locked in partisan disagreement, airlines are beginning to frame the shutdown as an economic and logistical emergency and are embracing the administration’s position (which, after all, regulates the carriers). The disruption to airport operations is already causing longer security lines and more frequent ground delays. For carriers that move hundreds of thousands of passengers per day, even small inefficiencies compound quickly.
American Airlines President Robert Isom has not publicly commented, but the timing underscores a coordinated effort by U.S. carriers to pressure lawmakers. Both Delta and American are calling for a “clean continuing resolution”(a temporary spending bill free of partisan riders) to restore normal government operations.
CONCLUSION
With American Airlines joining the bandwagon in urging Washington to end the shutdown, the airline industry’s message is unified: the federal aviation system is under increasing stress, and further delay risks cascading disruption across the country. The tipping point may not be far away. When airlines start raising their voices in unison, Congress tends to listen, especially when voters are stuck in airport lines (look not further than the pandemic-era bailouts if you don’t believe me).
image: American Airlines
Why not call it what it is, a DEMOCRATIC shutdown? The only people, barring eliminating the Filibuster, who can it are the Dems.
It’s really not that difficult and doesn’t have much to do with the GOP at this point, they voted to end it 13 times already other than Rand Paul.
The Schumer Shutdown is hurting working Americans, period.
The shutdown is the result of the rotten adminstration of Criminal Trump who you proudly elected.
Now, get on and enjoy it.
Na it was called by the democrats because they refuse to vote on a budget because they want healthcare for illegal aliens.
The non American commie chiming in.
Hi James, thank you for trying to remind the others. Ignore the noise; they’re scared.
Those who still care about the truth know what’s really happening here: The Republicans are attempting widespread ‘austerity’ for the poor and middle class of this country, while they grift for themselves and give huge tax breaks for the billionaires and the wealthiest corporations. Folks should be ‘mad as hell’ (Network).
Trump and his propogandists, like other fascists throughout history, will attempt to scapegoat some vulnerable out-group (whether it’s so-called ‘undocumented’ people, or ‘Democrats,’ or whoever); but, that’s some Wizard of Oz ‘don’t look at the man behind the curtain’ level bull.
When this is finally over, and the adults are back in-charge, we need to make sure to actually look out after our people; universal healthcare, affordable housing, a living (if not, thriving) wage, retirement planning, paid family leave, and more. It starts with transparency and accountability, getting ‘dark money’ out of politics, judicial reforms, robust ethics enforcement, and preservation of voting rights for all citizens.
Ah yes the completely Republican controlled government is not at fault. Another case of DDS, Democrat Derangement Syndrome.
They need 60 votes to pass the CR. IF you knew anything abotu civics and just didn’t repeat democrat talking points you would know this.
Democrats rely on stupid people like you to get themselves in power. Enjoy losing your foodstamps.
Loser.
You mock food assistance recipients, yet, ironically, the majority are in ‘red’ states; maybe you should be fighting to actually take better care of our people, sir. ‘Bootstraps’ don’t feed folks.
So what can they do Bob when they need 60 votes? Educate us, let me guess you want more money for future Dem voters, I’m sorry I mean illegals.
They always passed a clean resolution in the past, why not now?
My only disappointment in Trump is that he isn’t picking a city and deporting EVERY illegal to the point restaurants and hotels have to close down because they are too cheap to pay Americans so they hire illegals to clean rooms.
Meanwhile we all got a lot richer AGAIN this week in the market. Hard work and tough life choices still pays off Bob.
Hopefully things turn around for you!
What is this, good cop/bad cop? Walter insults Bob by calling him dumb; Dave pretends to care with fake ‘hope’ for Bob. Fellas, insulting your countrymen isn’t gonna help your cause.
Dave, you’re in-luck, Trump wants Senate Republicans to ‘flip the board,’ move the ‘goal-posts,’ and change those rules, so that your ‘team’ can do whatever it wants with a simple majority vote (the so-called ‘nuclear’ option). Now, I’d argue that is a bad idea for many reasons, but, we’re just a few guys on relatively limited online message board.
And before DDS, recall ODS (Obama Derangement Syndrome), which phonetically sounds like ‘odious’ which is how Dave and Walter are acting on here…
It’s a Republican shutdown. They can come to the table and negotiate. The GQP is playing games with people’s lives because they don’t care about real people.
One side: let’s reopen the government with a clean CR. Another side: not unless we continue to offer the “temporary” health care subsidies put in during Covid. Those subsidies go to all, not just those below 400% of poverty level (approx. $60,000/ year, single person). So, yeah shut down the government so even those making $140,000 continue to get Covid subsidies.
You do realize that $140k a year isn’t even middle class in many cities, don’t you?
This lame @$$ $140K isn’t much in my city argument doesn’t fly with us smart enough to avoid poorly managed, high cost cities. We know that you can live like a king (not figuratively, but literally if you consider royalty a couple of centuries ago) in the vast majority of zip codes. Ask America if $140K earners deserve handouts. Notice the only hands raised are in very few cities. Nope, NOPE. You have failed.
The onlynthing keeping rural areas afloat is handouts to farmers. Stop those handouts and all the rural losers will starve to death
Why would you think I meant rural? The vast majority of Americans live outside a few high-priced urban centers. Indianapolis. Kansas City, Tampa, Phoenix, basically all of fly over country.
It’s not a Democratic shutdown Dave. As the GOP loves to remind us, they control all 3 branches of government with majorities. Pass your own damn bill.
actually it is.
The gop needs 60 votes and democrats refuse to vote for it.
You did see they’re gonna change the rules, right? Your side may get its pyrrhic victory in re-opening government, soon, but the ‘cat is out of the bag,’ sir. Americans affected by those health insurance premium increases will know who did that to them (not Democrats, not immigrants)… it was the Republicans. Midterms comin’ up next year…
Thank you, Connor, for being one of the few here to actually state the facts. Republicans control the White House, Congress, and the Supreme Court. And, they likely will soon proceed with the ‘nuclear’ option in the Senate, in order to pass their own budget, which will cause tens of millions of Americans to lose healthcare cover, all so billionaires and wealthy corporations can get tax cuts. It’s disgusting.
The american people are getting sick of the democrat shutdown. for what? So that illegals get free healthcare?
LOL it’s a GQP shutdown Walter. GQP and their “daddy” Trump hold all the cards. They must be weak as they’re not taking their responsibility seriously and letting people go hungry
So, a minority of the Senate votes to keep the shutdown (not pass a CR) and what do they have in common? They are Dems.
Was late to the ‘party’ here, but, gotta say, oof, the nonsense from Dave and Walter is ‘a lot.’
Most Americans realize the GOP controls all three branches of the federal government, and they ‘own’ this shutdown because they were unwilling to even negotiate with Democrats in the Senate over healthcare for Americans.
Welp, Trump has told his Senate Republicans to flip the table, change the rules, and become the State Duma, a rubber stamp for his own authoritarian rule. It’s a horrible precedent, and a lot of Americans are gonna be worse off.
Hopefully, those who suffer as a result of this will not embrace the propaganda that inevitably will scapegoat the vulnerable (so-called ‘illegals’ or ‘brown people’ in general). Friends, it’s the rich; it’s the Republicans who did it.
Once you’ve all had ‘enough’ of this, let’s get the ‘adults’ back in-charge, and actually serve the people, again.