Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and American Airlines ask Congress to end government shutdown

delta airlines, united airlines and american airlines Delta Air Lines on Thursday called on Congress to reopen the U.S. government and pay air traffic controllers, with the airline urging senators to “immediately pass a clean continuing resolution.”

Air traffic controllers in the United States did not receive their first full paychecks Tuesday as Republican and Democratic senators remain deadlocked and the government shutdown continues into its fourth week with no end in sight.

Delta Air Lines said in a statement Thursday that “unpaid wages will only increase stress on these essential workers, many of whom are already working mandatory overtime to keep our skies safe.”

Delta CEO Ed Bastian warned earlier this month that the airline could be affected by an extended grounding.

Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy hosted a roundtable at the White House Thursday afternoon with Airlines for America, a lobby group whose members include Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and American Airlines.

“Airlines remain focused on ensuring safety and mitigating the impact of this closure on our operations,” Airlines for America said in a statement. “While we are anticipating a record-breaking holiday travel season, Americans will unfortunately have to be patient and prepare for further delays if the government shutdown continues for much longer.”

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby told reporters outside the White House that Congress should pass a clean continuing resolution, adding that the shutdown is putting stress on the economy.

American Airlines said it is unacceptable for federal employees to work without pay.

“An extended shutdown will result in more delays and cancellations, and Americans deserve better, especially during the busy holiday season,” the airline said in a statement.

Air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration employees are essential employees who are required to work during the shutdown even though they are not receiving regular paychecks.

Air traffic controllers have not been paid as they grapple with years of staffing shortages. Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said the number of fully certified air traffic controllers is 3,800 fewer than the FAA’s goal.

“These additional distractions will further exacerbate existing risks in an already strained system,” Daniels said in an op-ed in The Hill on Tuesday.

“With each continued day of closure, the National Airspace System is less safe than the day before as controllers’ focus shifts from critical safety missions to financial uncertainty,” he said.

The government shutdown began Oct. 1 after Senate Republicans and Democrats failed to reach an agreement to keep government offices open.

Democratic senators are pushing for Republicans to agree to expand health insurance subsidies in the Affordable Care Act before voting on funding to reopen the government.

The Congressional Budget Office estimated Wednesday that a four-week shutdown would cost the economy at least $7 billion by the end of 2026, according to CBO estimates. A six-week shutdown would result in losses of $11 billion, and an eight-week shutdown would result in losses of $14 billion.

Flight delays have occurred at several U.S. airports over the past month, but none of the severe disruptions seen before the end of the longest shutdown in history in late 2018 and early 2019.

—CNBC’s Leslie Josephs contributed to this report.