A partial shutdown of the United States government began at 12:01 AM Eastern Time on Saturday, after the United States Congress somehow missed a funding deadline, and the airline industry is trying to avoid an air-traffic meltdown. Carriers, primarily via Airlines for America, want legislation that keeps air traffic controllers and Federal Aviation Administration safety staff paid even when appropriations lapse.

They will argue that last fall’s record 43-day shutdown showed how fast pay disruptions become operational challenges. Controller absences continue to rise, and the FAA imposed flight cuts at 40 airports, and millions of travelers were affected as a result. It is no surprise that the FAA is short thousands of controllers, and airlines will say that the system has little buffer for another shutdown shock to occur.

What Are The New Developments Concerning Airlines?

Airlines are currently responding to the government shutdown warning with a concerted request. They want additional FAA funding to be allocated through the Aviation Funding Solvency Act and the Aviation Funding Stability Act, both of which would use aviation-system funds to keep essential FAA workers paid during funding gaps. A House of Representatives panel backed the concept unanimously in December, and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has since publicly highlighted airline support for the resolution, according to Reuters.

The timing of this decision also matters, as the shutdown began early Saturday as the House was away while the Senate advanced a deal. The fight is over Department of Homeland Security funding and immigration-enforcement restrictions. Even if this lapse is short, airlines argue that the system cannot absorb another round of controller fatigue, overtime, and cash-flow shocks. As a result, it has become fairly clear that airlines see it as essential to keep controllers both well-paid and ensure that towers remain appropriately staffed at pretty much all times.

The Last Shutdown Had A Massive Impact On Controllers

The last shutdown, which took place between October and November 2025, quickly exposed how essential work becomes fragile when pay stops flowing through. Controllers continued to staff towers and centers, but financing did not entirely pause. Most controllers received a partial paycheck on October 14, and then a $0 paycheck on October 29. This was of serious concern to a controller workforce that was already working mandatory unpaid overtime.

As the shutdown dragged on, fatigue and stress compounded over time, and absences climbed as some employees used leave to be called out sick. Citing safety as a principal concern, the FAA and the Department of Transportation ordered a temporary reduction of around 10% in flights at 40 high-traffic airports across the nation, a process that ramped up over several days. Airlines and airports thus tried to cushion the blow with meals and other support for unpaid aviation workers at major hubs.

This disruption still quickly spread across different schedules. Industry figures later pointed to thousands of cancellations and delays affecting millions of passengers. This is an outcome that became more likely because the FAA was already thousands of controllers short of its major staffing targets.

What Does This Mean For The Industry Now?

Today’s government shutdown may be short, but aviation’s warning is about thresholds. Once a funding lapse stretches into a missed paycheck, the air traffic control system can suddenly shift from busy to unsafe very quickly. Airlines have not asked Congress to remove the most predictable trigger for controller absences during a shutdown, which is working for weeks without pay. Passing such a bill would mean that the FAA would not be put in the position where it has to choose between service and safety again.

If lawmakers fail to act and the funding gap continues to exist, carriers will see the same playbook return, with staffing strain, targeted flow restrictions, and mandated schedule cuts at major hubs coming along. This would also include knock-on effects across the entire network. At the same time, pay protection is not a be-all-end-all.

The FAA still sits with thousands of controllers below staffing targets, and hiring and training pipelines are moving increasingly slowly. In the near-term, Congress could take steps to stabilize pay in shutdowns, then tackle staffing and modernization debates so that the next crisis does not start with a calendar deadline.