Airline CEOs press Congress to fund Homeland Security before record spring travel

Airline CEOs are urging Congress to end the partial government shutdown as passengers report hours-long TSA wait times and workers go without pay.

The CEOs of 10 major U.S. airlines urged Congress to end the partial government shutdown that has left tens of thousands of airport security workers without pay, warning the longer it drags on, the more likely it is to disrupt flights as the spring travel season begins.

Passengers at several major airports have reported waiting hours to get through security checkpoints, with some missing flights and not being guaranteed refunds. Now, a severe winter storm threatening the central United States that's expected to impact millions could further complicate travel.

As of the afternoon of March 15, 2,632 flights within, into, or out of the United States were delayed, and 1,678 were canceled, according to FlightAware.

"Too many travelers are having to wait in extraordinarily long — and painfully slow — lines at checkpoints," the CEOs representing Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Atlas Air Worldwide, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, Airlines for America, FedEx and UPS wrote in an open letter.

They requested Congress "immediately" work together to fund the Department of Homeland Security and then move forward on bipartisan legislation to ensure Transportation Security Administration officers, U.S. Customs clearance officers, and air traffic controllers are paid during shutdowns. The CEOs specifically urged Congress to pass the Aviation Funding Solvency Act, the Aviation Funding Stability Act, and the Keep America Flying Act — three pieces of legislation introduced last year.