Letters to the Editor: Why aren’t airlines helping to cover shutdown funding cuts?

To the editor: The U.S. government has repeatedly bailed out airlines using taxpayer money — especially after The attacks of September 11, 2001 And during The covid-19 pandemic. The latter includes wage support to sustain workers’ wages and benefits, as well as U.S. Treasury loans.

The current disruption of domestic air traffic is caused by the non-payment of TSA and air traffic controller salaries, which pose both a safety and national security risk due to the government shutdown (“Up to 1,800 flights a day could be disrupted by airport downtime; California will be hit the hardest.” November 6). Not to mention, the economic disaster for private businesses and tourism as well as the airline industry.

Why aren’t the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration asking the airlines to urgently help compensate this workforce to keep our airports open and running? Isn’t that common sense? However, it seems likely that airlines will face significant economic disruptions amid a 10% reduction in flights in the coming weeks.

Steve Mathis, Beverly Hills