Airline CEOs Urge Congress to End Shutdown, Avoid Travel Chaos

0:00On March 15, CEOs from major U.S. airlines like American, Delta, United, and Southwest are pressing Congress to end the 29-day partial. Government shut down. The hold-up has left 50,000 Transportation Security Administration officers working without pay, already sparking travel headaches at big, airports. Spring break travel is wrapping up, and absences among these screeners have led to painfully long security lines at places like Houston Hobby, New, Orleans, and Newark. Officials report delays stretching over two hours in spots last week. Airline leaders sent an open-letter warning that without quick action to fund the Department of Homeland Security, disruptions could snowball. They pointed to last fall's 43-day shutdown, which forced flight cuts nationwide and call for laws to guarantee pay for key aviation staff. During future standoffs, Senators from both parties tried but fail Thursday to pass TSA funding. Since the shutdown started on February 13, over immigration disputes, more than 300 officers

1:04have quit, even as airlines brace for A, record 171 million passengers this spring, of 4 percent from last year. Airports are stepping in by closing some checkpoints and raising cash to help unpaid workers with basics like food. With travel-demand peaking, leaders need to bridge the gap fast to keep fires moving