Airline CEOs Push Congress to End Shutdown as AAL, UAL, DAL Stocks in Focus

Major U.S. airline leaders are asking Congress to end the current government shutdown as travel lines grow at airports across the country. The warning comes as the spring travel rush draws near and millions of passengers prepare to fly. It also comes as a fair share of airline stocks face pressure since the turn of the year.

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In a joint letter, chief executives from American Airlines (AAL), United Airlines (UAL), Delta Air Lines (DAL), Southwest Airlines (LUV), JetBlue Airways (JBLU), and Alaska Air Group (ALK) urged lawmakers to reach a deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security. The group also included cargo firms FedEx (FDX), United Parcel Service (UPS), and Atlas Air.

The shutdown has now lasted 29 days. During that time, about 50,000 airport security staff from the Transportation Security Administration have been forced to work without pay. As a result, many workers have missed shifts or left their roles, which has begun to slow the travel system.

Long Security Lines Hit Airports

Security lines at several airports have grown long as fewer staff show up for work. Some locations have already closed certain checkpoints due to low staffing.

Airline leaders said the issue is now affecting travelers directly. In their letter to Congress, they wrote, “Too many travelers are having to wait in extraordinarily long and painfully slow lines at checkpoints.”

In addition, airports such as Houston Hobby and New Orleans have reported wait times of more than two hours. Newark Liberty International Airport also warned travelers of higher-than-normal delays over the weekend.

Meanwhile, the Transportation Security Administration said more than 300 security officers have quit since the shutdown began. Some airports are even raising funds to help workers buy food and other basic items while pay remains on hold.

Airlines Push for Long-Term Fix

According to the Airlines’ CEOs, the situation could worsen soon as spring travel ramps up. Airlines expect about 171 million passengers to fly during the next two months. That is about 4% more than the same period last year. Also on the horizon is a World Cup competition in June, which is expected to bring a million visitors to the U.S. in a single month.

Due to this unique situation, airline chiefs want Congress to reach a funding deal soon. They also want a new law that would ensure key aviation staff are paid even during future shutdowns.

In the letter, the airline leaders wrote, “First, leaders should immediately come together to reach an agreement to fund the Department of Homeland Security. Then they need to act so this problem never happens again.”

Now, we just have to wait and see.

We used TipRanks’ Comparison Tool to align all four companies appearing in the piece to gain an in-depth view of their operations and the broader airline industry.

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