Airlines Support Air Traffic Controllers in US Shutdown

Airlines are stepping in to help aviation workers left unpaid during the U.S. federal shutdown.

On November 2, several major U.S. carriers — American Airlines (AA), Southwest Airlines (WN) and United Airlines (UA) — confirmed they were helping frontline aviation staff after the government shutdown left nearly 13,000 air traffic controllers and about 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers working without pay.

Airlines have been offering meals at major U.S. airports, adjusting schedules to limit knock‑on delays and coordinating with airport partners to keep operations stable while staff continue to work unpaid. The measures aim to protect safety and reduce passenger disruption while federal funding talks continue in Congress.

Why airlines support air traffic controllers matters

The support is both practical and symbolic: practical because controllers keep the skies safe, and symbolic because carriers are publicly pressing lawmakers to resolve the funding impasse. Trade group Airlines for America (A4A) has urged Congress to pass funding to restore pay and ease strain on the aviation system.

Key move: airlines support air traffic controllers by providing meals, staffing flexibility and operational adjustments at major airports.

Industry leaders stress that these temporary steps aren’t a replacement for federal pay. Airlines are managing what they can on the ground, but longer shutdowns risk more serious schedule cuts, staffing pressures and passenger impacts if controllers and TSA staff stay unpaid.

Passengers should expect airlines to publish schedule changes and to monitor carrier and airport alerts. For now, carriers say they’ll continue frontline support while encouraging a quick resolution in Washington so essential aviation workers receive their paychecks on time.