In a surprising move, two Texas-based airlines are calling for passage of a Republican-backed bill to end the federal government shutdown.
Fort Worth-based American Airlines and Dallas-based Southwest Airlines has joined Delta and United in asking Congress to pass a Republican-backed “clean” funding bill to reopen the government.
While the airlines could have easily just simply demanded a reopening of government for the safety of air passengers, who are subject to extreme delays and worries about staff shortages in air control towers, but they instead called specifically for the Republican-administered bill.
Southwest management, in a statement, said Southwest Airlines said Congress should “immediately resolve its impasse and resume normal government operations.”
And American, also in a statement, said, “The quickest way to end this shutdown and get these workers paid is by passing a clean continuing resolution (CR),\.”
All four airlines expressed concerns about "more delays and cancellations, while the American people, especially during the busy holiday season, deserve better," as American Airlines put it.