Travel trade warns of potential disruptions this fall

The U.S. journey trade is urging congressional lawmakers to resolve the discrepancies in a pair of federal authorities funding measures the House and Senate handed in current weeks so air journey stays uninterrupted this fall.

In a letter to the bulk and minority leaders of each chambers, the leaders of the nation’s largest associations for journey, airways and accommodations urged lawmakers to enact the stopgap measure earlier than Sept. 30, the deadline to keep away from a partial authorities shutdown.

“Because government funding lapses have increased in recent years — often due to unrelated policy disagreements — it is imperative for Congress to enact legislation that would keep TSA and FAA workers paid during government shutdowns, such as advance appropriations for these critical functions,” U.S. Travel Association President Geoff Freeman, Airlines for America President Chris Sununu and American Hotel & Lodging Association President Rosanna Maietta wrote in a letter Monday.

Like the Senate, which on Saturday handed a short-term measure to fund federal businesses into early December, and the House, which handed its personal short-term funding measure in July to keep away from a doubtlessly chaotic authorities shutdown in the course of the midterms, the commerce teams are attempting to get forward of the chance that the 2 chambers will be unable to reconcile their variations earlier than the 2026 fiscal 12 months ends Sept. 30.

A possible sticking level between the 2 payments is a Senate provision favored by Democrats that delays a Trump administration rule on grants. In the House, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., could face strain from some members of the GOP convention to disclaim that provision as it really works to move the stopgap measure and preserve the federal government funded.

“There’s been enough uncertainty this last year, and you know, unfortunately, I think through two government shutdowns that have extended for a long period of time, I think it’s better for everybody if there’s predictability,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., advised reporters final week forward of the Senate vote.

The Senate and the House are presently in recess, with the House set to return Aug. 31 and the Senate again Sept. 14.

The journey trade teams cited the longest-ever authorities shutdown final fall, which lasted 43 days and led to greater than 9,000 flights being delayed or canceled and value the journey trade $1 billion weekly.

A partial authorities shutdown that lasted greater than a month earlier this 12 months was prompted by a Democratic showdown over funding for the Department of Homeland Security. As a outcome, a number of airports across the nation skilled hourslong delays as DHS-funded Transportation Security Administration safety officers went with out pay and known as out sick from work.

About 50,000 TSA staff who’re thought-about important labored for deferred pay throughout the newest shutdown, in keeping with the American Federation of Government Employees union that represents them.

“At a time when we are working to restore international visitation and strengthen confidence in America’s travel system, another shutdown would send precisely the wrong message,” the journey trade leaders wrote. “Enactment of the full [fiscal year 2027] appropriations bills is critical to the safety and operations of America’s passenger and cargo air transportation system, and that remains our top priority.”

The journey teams additionally urged the passage of a number of payments proposed throughout prior shutdowns to safe airport employee pay, together with the Keep America Flying Act of 2026 that may assure steady funding and pay for important aviation personnel throughout federal authorities shutdowns; the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2026 to mechanically present 14-day persevering with appropriations at earlier fiscal 12 months funding ranges if common spending payments should not enacted on time; and the Aviation Funding Stability Act, which might guarantee steady pay for air visitors controller by drawing from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund throughout federal price range lapses.

“America’s travelers, workers, and communities deserve certainty—not another preventable disruption,” the teams wrote.