Airline CEOs Warn of Travel Disruptions Amid Government Shutdown

The CEOs of 10 major US airlines have called on Congress to ensure federal aviation workers are paid during government shutdowns, citing long airport lines and travel disruptions as the spring travel season accelerates. In an open letter, the airline leaders endorsed the Aviation Funding Solvency Act and similar measures to guarantee pay protections for air traffic controllers, TSA officers, and Customs personnel. With a record 171 million passengers expected this spring, the airlines warned that unpaid federal workers were already straining the system, with TSA officers working without pay and significant increases in absenteeism and resignations. The letter was published in The Washington Post on March 15, 2026, and reported by AeroTime.