Four of the nation’s largest airlines are pressing Senate Democrats to pass a clean stopgap spending bill to reopen the government amidst growing delays at airports around the country caused by staffing issues linked to the expiration of government funding a month ago.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby told reporters Thursday “it is time to pass a clean CR,” sending a blunt message to holdout Democratic senators.
American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines are also pressing Democrats to relent and pass a House-approved bill to fund the government through Nov. 21.
Kirby noted that federal agencies have been shuttered for a month, forcing air traffic controllers to work without getting paid.
Kirby warned after a meeting with Vice President Vance that the shutdown is hurting the economy.
Former New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R), the CEO of the trade group Airlines for America, attended the meeting with Kirby, Vance, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Robert Isom, the CEO of American Airlines Group Inc.
American Airlines in a statement urged the Senate to pass a “clean continuing resolution” to reopen the government, something that Democrats have blocked 13 times because the House-passed stopgap does not address rising health insurance premiums.
“The quickest way to end this shutdown and get these workers paid is by passing a clean continuing resolution,” American Airlines said in a statement. “A prolonged shutdown will lead to more delays and cancellations — and the American people, especially during the busy holiday season, deserve better.”
Delta and Southwest joined the call for Congress to pass a clean continuing resolution immediately to allow air traffic controllers to get paid before airport delays grow worse.
Delta warned “a system under stress must be slowed down, reducing efficiency and causing delays for the millions of people who take to the skies every day,” Reuters reported.
Southwest called on Congress to “immediately resolve its impasse and resume normal government operations.”
“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,” it said in a statement reported by USA Today. “We ask Congress to adopt a clean continuing resolution.”
Senators faced 90-minute delays at Ronald Reagan National Airport Thursday afternoon after they rushed to the airport to catch flights home after the last vote of the week. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered a ground stop at Reagan Thursday due to “staffing” issues.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told reporters that he was one of the lawmakers impacted by the traffic snarl at Reagan.
