Airlines, Pilots, and Workers Demand Senate Democrats Pass Clean CR, Reopen the Government

It’s Day 35 of the Democrat Shutdown.

In Utah and across the country, air traffic controllers and TSA officers are working without pay, and travelers are facing delays and ground stops due to staffing shortages in control towers. With the Thanksgiving travel rush approaching, the travel industry, from pilots to airlines to airport workers, is sounding the alarm.

Every week the shutdown drags on, $1 billion in travel-related spending is lost, while the nation’s 13,000 air traffic controllers are preparing to miss their first full paycheck – and Democrats say “every day gets better for us.” 

Major airlines including Delta, United, American, and Southwest, along with pilot unions representing millions of workers and air traffic controllers unions, are demanding action. They’ve all called on Senate Democrats to pass the clean, 24-page continuing resolution the House already approved to reopen the government and pay America’s federal workforce.

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby: “It’s putting stress on people. It’s not fair to those people. It’s also putting stress on the economy.”

American Airlines: “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.”

Delta Airlines: “Delta Air Lines implores Congress to immediately pass a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government so that our air traffic controllers, TSA and CBP officers … can collect the paychecks they deserve.”

Southwest Airlines: “The public expects and deserves to travel in a system in which air traffic controllers and federal safety and security employees are paid in a timely fashion. We ask Congress to adopt a clean continuing resolution.”

In addition, the Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations (CAPA), NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots (NJASAP), Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA), and the Allied Pilots Association (APA) have all issued similar statements urging Congress to act immediately.

All it takes is five Senate Democrat votes to end this shutdown, restore paychecks, and ensure a safe, functioning airspace before the busiest travel season of the year.

House Republicans already passed a clean, nonpartisan funding bill. Senate Democrats are the only ones standing in the way of reopening the government.