The following statement is attributable to Airlines for America (A4A):

With President Trump’s signature, the longest shutdown in our nation’s history has finally come to an end. 

This prolonged disruption placed significant strain on millions of Americans—including travelers, shippers and the federal employees who keep our aviation system safe. We are grateful to the dedicated air traffic controllers and TSA officers who showed up for work despite not getting paid. Additionally, thousands of airline employees have been going the extra mile to take care of customers during these challenging days. 

When the FAA gives airlines clearance to return to full capacity, our crews will work quickly to ramp up operations especially with Thanksgiving holiday travel beginning next week.

We implore Congress to ensure future funding bills do not allow aviation to become collateral damage in Washington’s policy debates. The FAA’s Airport and Airway Trust Fund currently has $5 billion that could be used to pay air traffic controllers during future shutdowns. We ask Congress to consider legislation that would implement a long-term solution.