The largest airlines in the United States are asking Senator Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to pass a clean funding bill and end the government shutdown. Air traffic controllers are beginning to lose their full pay, which is raising safety and efficiency issues among airlines.
The Senate is scheduled to reconvene on Monday. This will extend the shutdown into its 34th and longest day in American history. House passed “clean” funding measures, also known as continuing resolutions (CR), to extend current fiscal year until late November. This will fund government operations while the comprehensive plan for FY2026 is sorted out.
Senate Democrats have voted more than a dozen votes against the CR to demand legislative items on their wish list, such as an extension to Affordable Care Act credits from the Obama era, due to expire soon under legislation Democrats themselves supported.
As the Democrat shutdown continues, it is causing increasing concern amongst America’s biggest airlines. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said to reporters in an interview on Thursday that it was “time to pass a new CR”, sending a clear message to Senate Democrats.
Kirby pointed out that the federal government has been shut down for almost a full month now, which forces air traffic controllers not to receive a pay check. After meeting Vice President JDVance at the White House, he warned further that the shutdown would have negative effects on the economy.
Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and Southwest Airlines are all urging Democrats to support the CR. American Airlines, in a press release, urged Senate to pass “a clean continuing resolution” for reopening the government. Democrats had previously rejected this 13 times. The statement continued, “The fastest way to end the shutdown and pay these workers is passing a clean continuance resolution.” A prolonged shutdown would lead to further delays and cancellations, and Americans, particularly during this busy holiday period, deserve better.
The White House hosted a meeting on Thursday with a number of airline executives, as well as Vice President Vance and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. Also in attendance were leaders of several labor unions including the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
Do not place working people at the center of a crisis. The workers shouldn’t be there. We have to consider the families who will be affected. Imagine telling your child they cannot play sports, because you are not paid. Sean O’Brien, Teamsters president said: “Think about the day you won’t be able to pay your mortgage.” Considerthe situation where you cannot pay for your college tuition. Get to the table and negotiate. Pass a clean CR now. Then, figure out how you’ll move forward.
The President added: “I would like to thank all the hard workers and those who sacrifice for Aviation Administration.” The safety and security of airlines are paramount. We must not compromise safety or security. “Pass a clean CR.”
Delta and Southwest also called upon Democrats to pass CR to allow for air traffic controllers to be paid.
Southwest Airlines stated that “the public deserves and expects to be able to travel with a system where air traffic controllers, federal safety and security personnel are paid on time.” We ask Congress to pass a clean continuing resoluton.
