The United States government has been shut down for nearly a month at this point, meaning that federal workers aren’t receiving their paychecks. Despite the shutdown, our air travel system has actually been operating pretty reliably, with minimal staffing issues. Along those lines, one airline is now being impacted by the shutdown pretty directly, and is also calling on the shutdown to end…
In this post:
Delta One check-in at JFK & LAX closes due to shutdown
Yesterday, the Wall Street Journal ran a story titled “The Shutdown Is Now Coming for Your Airport’s VIP Security Lane.” While airport staffing limitations haven’t been a problem widely, we are starting to see some implciations.
Specifically, Delta is known for its excellent Delta One check-in facilities in Los Angeles (LAX) and New York (JFK), whereby passengers can check-in in an exclusive area, and then use a private TSA checkpoint to get through security.
While premium check-in continues to be available, the special security lanes have been temporarily closed, due to the shutdown. A Delta spokesperson stated that “we’re working with our TSA partners in these locations to have customers screened through other checkpoints.”
Presumably what’s going on here is that we’re starting to see an increase in sick calls and people not coming into work, since they can’t afford to show up to work if they’re not getting a paycheck, and they need to find other ways to make ends meet.
So once staffing is reduced a bit, these premium security lines are the first to get the cut, since they’re not exactly essential. Fair enough.
Delta calls for end of government shutdown
As flagged by David Shepardson, Delta has just issued a statement calling on Congress to end the government shutdown by passing a clean continuing resolution:
“Delta Air Lines implores Congress to immediately pass a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government so that our air traffic controllers, TSA and CBP officers charged with the safety and efficiency of our national airspace can collect the paychecks they deserve. Missed paychecks only increase the stress on these essential workers, many of whom are already working mandatory overtime to keep our skies safe and secure. It’s thanks to these federal employees that Delta is able to carry more than 500,000 daily customers on 5,000 daily flights. A system under stress must be slowed down, reducing efficiency and causing delays for the millions of people who take to the skies every day.”
Obviously the shutdown has much bigger implications than Delta’s most premium passengers getting a shortcut at security. However, the timing of this statement is funny. A day after the WSJ article about Delta One check-in closing, and around a month into the shutdown, Delta is finally calling on it to end?
Of course there’s not actually much substance to this. I don’t think anyone wants a government shutdown, it’s just a function of the extent to which the parties are willing to negotiate.
Bottom line
The special Delta One security lanes at JFK and LAX have been closed due to the government shutdown. Presumably this is because TSA staffing is getting a bit thin, so the TSA can’t justify allocating employees to these special checkpoints.
A day after this was covered by the WSJ, Delta has issued a statement calling on the government shutdown to end. I don’t expect that to have much of an impact, but Delta certainly isn’t alone in wanting that…
Didn't DL, just like so many companies in the US, embrace Trump and give him money? Isn't the tear down of the White House East Wing partially funded by Corporate America? So sad to hear they now want the shutdown to end.
Yup. Delta is the ‘Marie Antoinette’ of airlines… ‘let them eat Biscoff!’
The other day I arrived at Tampa security about 0615 and choose the regular non pre clear line and was through in under 8 minutes. Faster than the Pre Check Pre Clear lines....
There are many reasons to decry the government shutdown. The closure of elite DeltaOne security lanes is not one of them.
This the same Delta that donated a million dollars to the Great Dealmaker?
They prefer the term ‘gratuity,’ as long as you don’t literally call it a ‘bribe’…
I didn't see too many silver-spoon-in-mouth elite travelers being too concerned over mandatory work / no pay for ATCs and TSAs over the past month (not unlike many not caring much about flight attendants continually being marginalized). Ohhh, but now that your special D1 TSA security is impacted, your hair has caught on fire. Get in line, pal, with the rest of us, at least until your elected representatives decide it's time to solve the problem.
Is Delta paying for the Premium TSA line, or freeloading?
You tell us, Ed (Bastion)
yeah I went through the delta one check-in at lax on 10/14 and they actually made it super easy. I mean, it wasn’t as nice as the normal screening right after the delta one check-in, but they had someone escort you all the way to the pre-check line upstairs and to the front, so it really wasn’t that bad at all.
What we should do is get rid of the TSA and just let airports provide their own security. But that would entail common sense.
100% with you. I'd go as far as to say ATC can easily be private as well.
Nah, that's not the answer (both TSA and/or ATC, needs to remain public); anarcho-libertarianism leads to oligarchic feudalism. Most of us would be far worse off with 'privatizing' everything. See post-Soviet 'Putin's' Russia. (Beware of open windows, btw.)
@George Romey--you are being ridiculous. Have you forgotten how/why TSA was created in the first place? (If you have, here's a hint: 9/11/2001.). We tried private airport security and it didn't end well.
Anyone forced to go thru the serf security line should receive 100 sky pesos
"TSA and CBP officers charged with the safety and efficiency of our national airspace"
I get it. All Delta cares about is being "PREMIUM" and thus are crying over the "PREMIUM" TSA lanes being closed.
If SAFETY is actually their concern as stated above, the complete lack of mention of ATC in that sentence clearly makes one think otherwise.
How does a press release/comment like that make it past PR consultants and the C suite?! Embarrassing
Here's a solution. If at a budget impasse, all programs are funded at old rates, and the only thing unfunded is congressional salaries and benefits. And, after the impasse, there is no retroactive pay or benefits. Also, Warren Buffet's deficit proposal.
Or, hear me out, Senators could negotiate in good-faith on the budget...
It's called a continuing resolution. Controlling both houses of Congress, the Republicans have the authority and the ability to unilaterally do what you've suggested.
No Jack, they cannot. Cloture, which is the vote to end discussions and move a bill to vote, requires 60 votes. Last I checked, neither party had 60 members. So no, they cannot unilaterally do what they want.
So, Jack's in favor of the so-called 'nuclear' option, eh?
For those unaware, the continuing resolution (CR) is a temporary bill that funds the government when a full budget hasn't been passed. But, since a CR is a type of legislation, it is subject to the legislative filibuster rules in the Senate. And, the 'nuclear' option is the concept of changing the Senate's rules to pass legislation by a simple majority vote, 51 votes,...
So, Jack's in favor of the so-called 'nuclear' option, eh?
For those unaware, the continuing resolution (CR) is a temporary bill that funds the government when a full budget hasn't been passed. But, since a CR is a type of legislation, it is subject to the legislative filibuster rules in the Senate. And, the 'nuclear' option is the concept of changing the Senate's rules to pass legislation by a simple majority vote, 51 votes, instead of the two-thirds majority typically required. Changing the rules for legislation is seen as a far more radical step than changing the rules for nominations. Senators worry that abolishing the legislative filibuster would lead to a perpetually revolving door of policy changes every time party control shifts, destabilizing government. If they proceed, and they very well may, soon, that'll be the end of the ideals of the Senate being a more 'deliberate' chamber of Congress; who needs compromise or to protect minority views, anyways. And, no need to worry about retaliation, because the 'red' team will always been in power, right? Bi-partisanship and legitimacy are overrated anyway, eh?
Small correction: overcoming the filibuster normally requires 60 votes, not two-thirds (which would be 67 votes).
Ah. Fair. Matt gets it.
Kirby just said the same thing at the White House with Vance and Duffy.
It was hard to hear him, though, you know, with their...(delicious food!)...in his mouth.
While this has an incredibly minimal impact on people actually getting through security, this is a much more effective strategy by the government than the videos they were trying to show at the security lanes. Not sure why it took the party in power a month to figure this one out.
In this case, while I am fairly sure the senators are much more concerned about SNAP benefits ending on 11/1, they also don't like hearing wealthy constituents complain.
Ben and 1990 are clearly afraid that free health care for illegals is being negotiated for with fast access at US security checkpoints.
note that DL said a "CLEAN" CR.
Uh oh, Tim: "Thou doth protest too much, methinks..."
Healthcare for Americans still matters, and is absolutely worth fighting for.
That's incorrect and you know it "Tim"
Yup, lies like the one Tim was propagating above won't matter much when many folks start to see their healthcare insurance premium renewals on November 1, 2025.
Most people cannot afford to have to pay double; then, they'll finally realize only one party ever cared about them, however imperfect, and that they are indeed fighting for a just cause in protecting those subsidies.
MAGA can attempt to scapegoat immigrants all they want; but at...
Yup, lies like the one Tim was propagating above won't matter much when many folks start to see their healthcare insurance premium renewals on November 1, 2025.
Most people cannot afford to have to pay double; then, they'll finally realize only one party ever cared about them, however imperfect, and that they are indeed fighting for a just cause in protecting those subsidies.
MAGA can attempt to scapegoat immigrants all they want; but at some point, MAGA actually has to govern, not just claim boogeymen are out to get you, while doing nothing (or worse, just grifting.)
What is this shutdown that people keep talking about?
Is this a US only thing or does it impact all Delta destinations?
Well, Delta mostly flies to/from/within the USA, so I'd say, yeah, for the most part, Delta is affected. Currently, Delta does not operate any 'fifth-freedom' routes on its own. (For instance, they used to fly NRT-HKG, which wouldn't have dealt with USA TSA at all.)
Ah ok, thank you, so nothing for me to worry about.
To be fair, by the way this sounds, it is quite puzzling how a country like the US allows one person to just shut down the government based on their own idealogy but I guess other places have their faults too.
That’s very thoughtful and considerate; yeah, we’re working on our troubles. From an American, sorry about all this noise.
Well, if the most premium/business centric US airlines says so then what choice do we have?! Thanks Delta for pointing out the effects of a government shutdown. Without your insight how could we possibly understand the nuances?
Would bailing out Argentina with another $40,000,000,000 help?
Not tax dollars, and it's not a gift. It's a currency swap. They get $40 billion in USD, we get 40 billion USD worth in pesos.. that they have to swap back with interest. Not a bailout even remotely.
There is still an opportunity cost until it's swap back. Beyond that's it's bad optics that makes you wonder why it's happening because Trump will only do something if he personally benefits. And likely what benefits him is at a cost to us tax payers. History don't lie.
Have we learned nothing from airline devaluations? SkyPesos? C’mon…
You’re being disingenuous, Petrie. It’s a bailout, regardless of what form it takes, and Bob is absolutely right that we may lose a substantial amount of that value.
Bad deal for Americans. Great deal for Argentina’s current leader. So much for ‘America First’ (which was always a farce to begin with!)
“Delta demands…” psh.
Go home, Delta; you’re drunk.
A real FAFO for Ed Bastion. How's that "breath of fresh air" from the new administration working out?
Oof. Turns out that 'air' was just Trump's post-McDonalds burps and farts. Yikes.
It is within the power of the party that controls government to pass a continuing resolution.
100%
Instead, Trump is building his own Versailles while his people starve… let’s see how that works out…
Is President Trump spending Government money?
ps, The answer is no.
Nice try. The 'source' of said funds for a new building isn't the issue. It's the unauthorized, illegal demolition and construction. If any other administration did this (think... Obama), you'd've already done another J6...
Nice try, President is the authorizing and no law requires outside approval. lol
Actually no, it's corporations and investors doing a little back door bribery to ensure agent orange looks out for their interests
If you think any contributor did so for virtuous reasons, you're delusional
Johnny gets it.
Actually it takes 60 votes to pass a continuing resolution in the Senate. The Republicans do not have 60 votes. They need Democrat support to do so.
On the one hand, it's annoying that they only care once the premium experience is impacted... and I have a tiny violin for the small portion of people inconvenienced by losing their premium/priority security lanes
On the other hand, it's also sad that it's these inconvenienced few that might actually have a larger voice/influence with the decision makers, so this might actually "matter".
It’d need to affect the private-jet class for anything to really happen; like, think less JFK, more Teterboro, friends. In fact, if you work at ATC there… I hear there’s a cold going around… *cough*
Two or three days ago, Ed Bastian was on CNN with Richard Quest and said the shutdown has had NO EFFECT on Delta.
Oh you watch CNN International too then lol
Yeah, domestic-US CNN is compromised; in 2025, they’re more likely to say our ‘Dear Leader’ is the ‘greatest’… psh.
We’re so cooked.