DHS shutdown: Delta drops lawmaker VIP perks
With airport security lines stretching for hours, Delta Air Lines has temporarily ditched its perks for members of Congress.
Delta says elected officials will no longer get airport escorts or VIP upgrade and rebooking services.
Delta says they will get the same level of service as any other passenger.
It comes amid weeks of no pay for TSA officers and other essential aviation workers.
Hundreds of TSA employees have quit and many more have been absent.
It comes after an agreement was reached by both parties to fund pay checks but the President blocked it.
“Due to the impact on resources from the longstanding government shutdown, Delta will temporarily suspend specialty services to members of Congress flying Delta,” the airline said.
The shutdown has also led to a significant increase in Transportation Security Administration (TSA) call-outs, as employees have worked without regular pay for over a month. Travelers have endured long wait times at security checkpoints at U.S. airports due to staffing shortages. Federal officials said more than 400 TSA officers have resigned since the shutdown began.
Similar to other U.S. airlines, Delta offers special services for lawmakers who fly frequently back and forth from Washington, DC.
According to Delta Air Lines, lawmakers will no longer receive special airport escorts or VIP treatment for services like upgrades and rebooking. Delta says that lawmakers will be treated as any other passenger based on their SkyMiles loyalty status.
Lawmakers will still have access to the Capital Desk, a special Delta phone line for ticket reservations.
In an interview with CNBC, Delta CEO Ed Bastian called for the government to restart payments to TSA workers.
“It’s inexcusable that our security agents, front-line workers central to what we do, are not being paid. It’s ridiculous to see them used as political chips. We’re outraged,” he said.
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