FORT WORTH — The U.S. government shutdown—now stretching into its 40th day and marking the longest in the nation’s history—has taken a visible toll on the aviation industry.

Over 2,000 flights have been delayed or canceled, airport operations have slowed, and tens of thousands of federal aviation employees have gone unpaid. As disruptions mount, American Airlines (AA) has joined other carriers and industry groups in urging swift congressional action to reopen the government.

In a statement released by AA and shared on X by Reuters transportation reporter on The Hill, David Shepardson, the airline praised bipartisan Senate leadership for working toward a compromise that could restore government funding and relieve the growing strain across the air transport system.

“American Airlines applauds Majority Leader Thune and both Democratic and Republican Senators who showed real leadership in reaching a compromise, which if adopted, would reopen the government,” the company said. “We urge the Senate and the House to pass this bill immediately, so we can restore reliability for our customers.”

Shutdown’s Impact Across U.S. Aviation

For nearly six weeks, the aviation system has operated under severe pressure. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and other essential agencies have continued limited operations, but with unpaid personnel and reduced staffing. The result has been thousands of flight delays and cancellations, longer security lines, and growing concerns over safety and efficiency.

According to Cirium data, as cited in our recent analysis, cancellations in major U.S. hubs rose sharply during the shutdown period, particularly at Atlanta (ATL), Newark (EWR), and Chicago O’Hare (ORD). These disruptions have rippled across the network, affecting both passengers and cargo operations.

American, like other major carriers, has waived change fees and offered rebooking flexibility for affected travelers. The airline underscored the urgency of restoring normal operations to maintain safety and service reliability.

“For 40 days, federal aviation workers haven’t been paid, and our customers have endured thousands of delays and cancellations due to the government shutdown,” the statement continued. “It’s imperative that we get the hardworking aviation safety and security professionals paid, and that we get the country moving again.”

Industry, Labor Perspectives

Aviation unions, including the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) and the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), have warned of mounting risks associated with unpaid federal labor. Controllers and safety inspectors working without compensation face exhaustion and morale challenges, conditions that industry leaders describe as “unsustainable.”

Airlines for America (A4A), the trade association representing U.S. carriers, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing that air traffic safety depends on a fully funded and staffed federal workforce. The prolonged shutdown, they warned, risks degrading the country’s reputation for aviation excellence and reliability.

Toward Recovery, Stability

American Airlines' public push the Sundays proposed bill reflects an industry consensus that reopening the government is vital for the health of the U.S. aviation system and the economy at large. We hope that's the case so the US aviation industry can stabilize flight schedules and ensure public confidence in air travel.

As Congress moves toward a possible resolution, carriers and passengers alike are hoping for a swift end to the stalemate. We try never to speculate, so cautious optimism is the best we can mustard regarding any legislative action that enables operations to return to normality, specially as we approach the holidays.