US airline CEOs urge Congress to end standoff, pay airport security officers

Source: Reuters

March 15, 2026 6:03 AM EDT Updated 1 hour ago


WASHINGTON, March 15 (Reuters) - The chief executive ​officers of major U.S. airlines urged Congress on Sunday to move quickly to end a 29-day partial ‌government shutdown that has forced 50,000 airport security officers to work without pay, warning it could further disrupt U.S. air travel. Absences by Transportation Security Administration officers have already disrupted travel at some major airports over the last week, raising alarm as the busy spring break travel ​season continues.

"Too many travelers are having to wait in extraordinarily long - and painfully slow - lines at checkpoints," ​the CEOs of American Airlines (AAL.O), opens new tab, United Airlines (UAL.O), opens new tab, Delta Air Lines (DAL.N), opens new tab, Southwest Airlines (LUV.N), opens new tab, JetBlue Airways (JBLU.O), opens new tab, Alaska ⁠Air (ALK.N), opens new tab and others wrote in an open letter to Congress.

"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," they added. Last ​fall, a 43-day government shutdown led to widespread flight disruptions and the FAA ordered a 10% flight cut at major airports. "Once again air travel is the political football amid another government shutdown," the CEOs wrote.

The group of airline executives - which also includes senior executives at cargo ​carriers FedEx (FDX.N), opens new tab, UPS (UPS.N), opens new tab and Atlas Air - called for legislation to ensure during future government shutdowns all critical government aviation ​personnel are paid.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-airline-ceos-urge-congress-end-standoff-pay-airport-security-officers-2026-03-15/