Delta Air Lines Says It Will Suspend Special Services for Congress Members

Key Points:

• Delta Air Lines announced it will suspend special services for members of Congress, such as airport escorts and specialized customer service, due to the ongoing partial government shutdown affecting travel nationwide.
• The Capital Desk, a dedicated reservations line for lawmakers, will remain operational, but members of Congress will be treated like regular passengers based on their SkyMiles loyalty status.
• The shutdown has led to about 50,000 TSA officers being unpaid for over a month, causing mass absences, long airport security lines, and warnings that some small airports may close.
• President Trump deployed ICE agents to assist at airports amid severe delays, with major airports like Atlanta and New York removing wait time estimates and advising passengers to allow extra time for security.
• Delta’s CEO Ed Bastian criticized the unpaid TSA officers situation as “inexcusable” and urged Congress to resolve the shutdown quickly, while other airlines have yet to comment on suspending congressional perks.