The following statement is attributable to Airlines for America (A4A) President and CEO Chris Sununu:

“A4A is deeply concerned that TSA PreCheck and Global Entry programs are being suspended and that the traveling public will be, once again, used as a political football amid another government shutdown. The announcement was issued with extremely short notice to travelers, giving them little time to plan accordingly, which is especially troubling at this time of record air travel. 

“During last fall’s 43-day shutdown—the longest in U.S. history—more than 9,000 flights were delayed or cancelled, significantly impacting six million travelers and countless deliveries. In sum, that shutdown caused $6.1 billion of losses across the travel industry and related sectors. 

“It’s past time for Congress to get to the table and get a deal done that ensures TSA can fully operate and their frontline employees can be paid for the important work they do to keep our skies secure.”