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