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As the government shutdown stretches into its sixth week, major airlines are offering meals and assistance to unpaid air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers, who remain on the job despite missing paychecks. The shutdown, which began on October 1, has left roughly 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA employees working without pay, creating widespread disruptions across US airports. American Airlines confirmed to FOX Business that it is providing meals at airports nationwide, including Dallas Fort Worth, Philadelphia, New York's JFK and LaGuardia, Los Angeles International, and Miami International. "We're grateful to the air traffic controllers, TSA officers and [Customs and Border Protection] officers who continue to ensure safe travel for our customers — even as they go unpaid during the government shutdown," the airline said in a statement. Delta Air Lines and JetBlue are also stepping in with similar support. Delta has "arranged for a limited number of meals for transportation sector workers," while JetBlue plans to "offer meals at our airports as a gesture of support," according to People Magazine. United Airlines is donating meals as well, and Alaska Airlines has urged Congress to pass a continuing resolution to reopen the government, highlighting the stress caused by missed paychecks for essential aviation workers. US Airports Struggle Amid Controller Shortages Air travel across the US has been severely impacted by a surge in callouts from air traffic controllers, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Nearly half of the 30 busiest airports are experiencing staffing shortages, including Boston, Phoenix, San Francisco, Nashville, Houston, Dallas, and the Washington, D.C., area. New York City airports are particularly hard-hit, with 80% of controllers absent. Last week, Los Angeles International Airport temporarily halted flights due to staffing shortages, HuffPost reported. The FAA warned that the surge in absences is forcing reduced air traffic flow, which may result in further delays or cancellations. Air traffic controllers have been required to work mandatory overtime six days a week. "After 31 days without pay, air traffic controllers are under immense stress and fatigue," the FAA said. "The shutdown must end so that these controllers receive the pay they've earned and travelers can avoid further disruptions and delays." Southwest Airlines emphasized that while airlines are doing their best to minimize delays, the ultimate control of air traffic remains with the FAA. "Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees," a spokesperson said. Originally published on vcpost.com
