United Airlines CEO Warns Prolonged Government Shutdown Could Impact Travel Bookings
CHICAGO — United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has warned that the ongoing U.S. federal government shutdown could soon begin to affect consumer confidence and air travel bookings if Congress fails to reach a resolution in the coming days.
Speaking during an earnings call on Thursday, Kirby said that while the early days of the shutdown, which began on October 1, have not impacted United’s operations, the longer it drags on, the more likely it is that travelers will grow wary.
“At least for the first couple of weeks, people thought it was going to get resolved, so they just kind of continued business as usual,” Kirby said. “But as time goes on… people start to lose confidence in the government’s ability to resolve this. And that’s going to start to impact bookings.”
The federal shutdown stems from Congress’s failure to pass a new funding bill, halting many government operations. While essential personnel such as Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents and air traffic controllers continue to work, they do so without pay, raising concerns about morale and staffing shortages.
Industry-wide Concerns Over FAA and TSA Staffing
United is not alone in raising concerns. Last week, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian issued a similar warning, cautioning that an extended shutdown could erode passenger confidence and strain federal aviation services. Although neither airline has reported operational impacts yet, airline executives say the pressure is mounting.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has already flagged thin staffing levels, especially among air traffic controllers. Last week, some airports—including Nashville International Airport in Tennessee and Hollywood Burbank Airport in California—experienced delays linked to reduced FAA personnel availability.
Union members representing U.S. air traffic controllers have also raised alarm. On Tuesday, they distributed leaflets outside key airports such as New York’s LaGuardia, Washington D.C., and Chicago’s O’Hare, urging travelers to contact their lawmakers and advocate for an end to the shutdown.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), which represents over 20,000 FAA employees, says its members are already stretched thin and working under high stress.
Air Travel Disruption Memories Still Fresh
Industry veterans recall the consequences of the last major shutdown, which began in late 2018 and lasted 35 days—the longest in U.S. history. That standoff ended only after a staffing shortage among air traffic controllers caused massive delays and flight cancellations in the New York metro area, bringing national air traffic to a near standstill.
Kirby noted that while United hasn’t seen a measurable drop in bookings yet, the situation remains fragile.
“There’s no specific date where you see a cliff, but every day that goes by, the risk to the U.S. economy grows,” he said. “I hope we can avoid an unforced error here.”
Economic Risks Loom Larger
The airline industry is closely tied to economic sentiment, and prolonged political uncertainty tends to discourage both business and leisure travel. Travel analysts say that even the perception of risk can lead passengers to delay booking flights or seek alternate transportation.
If the shutdown continues without resolution, analysts predict wider ripple effects across the U.S. travel industry, including delayed airport construction projects, suspended training programs for new controllers, and weakened security screening capacity due to overworked TSA officers.
For now, flights continue to operate, and passengers aren’t facing major disruptions—but airline executives are sounding the alarm early.
“Confidence is key in travel,” Kirby emphasized. “And if that confidence in government stability erodes, travel demand is going to take a hit.”
Reported by: KilatNews Aviation Desk
Sources: United Airlines Earnings Call, FAA, TSA, NATCA, Associated Press
