Airlines Issue Clear Warning to All Travelers Amid Government Shutdown

On Wednesday, the federal government officially shut down after Congress failed to reach a deal on a federal budget, meaning that hundreds of thousands of federal employees across the country will be furloughed until an agreement can be reached.

While many industries will be largely unaffected, and many consumers might not directly feel the impacts of the shutdown, that certainly will not be the case for the travel industry, as the nation's major airlines have warned.

Why Did the Government Shut Down?

On Wednesday, Reuters cited "deep partisan divisions" as the reason why Congress and the White House were not able to reach a funding deal, resulting in the federal government shutdown.

Reuters reported that this could begin "a long, grueling standoff" that could impact the airline industry.

"There was no clear path out of the impasse, while agencies warned that the 15th government shutdown since 1981 would halt the release of a closely watched September employment report, slow air travel, suspend scientific research, withhold pay from U.S. troops and lead to the furlough of 750,000 federal workers at a daily cost of $400 million." Reuters wrote on Wednesday.

Airlines Issue Clear Warning

One major industry that will certainly be impacted by the government shutdown is the airline industry, given the reliance on federal workers within the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) who run the security checkpoints at airports across the country.

Airlines for America, a trade group that represents major carriers such as American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines, recently issued a pretty clear warning to all travelers, warning that this government shutdown could mean longer wait times at airports and delayed flights.

“When federal employees who manage air traffic, inspect aircraft and secure our nation’s aviation system are furloughed or working without pay, the entire industry and millions of Americans feel the strain,” the group said in a statement reported by Reuters.

The major airlines warned that as a result of the furloughs, the airline system may need to slow down,” which would reduce efficiency and impact on-time departures and arrivals.

So next time you fly, make sure to allow for a little extra time at the airport.