A Southwest pilot’s viral message urging passengers to call their senators captures nationwide frustration as flight delays rise during the government shutdown.
HOUSTON — A Southwest Airlines pilot’s viral message to passengers is striking a chord with frustrated travelers across the country — and it underscores how deeply the ongoing government shutdown is disrupting air travel.
“I don’t really care what your political persuasion is, but you should really call your senator,” the pilot said in the now-viral video. “Because I’ll tell you, this is costing me — an airline — millions of dollars. And just think of 30 airplanes with one engine running. It’s going to take us at least 90 minutes to take off. So it’s frustrating, it’s really frustrating for me because right now it’s going to cost about two hours of our lives on the ground before we take off… spend all that gas, all that money… right now we’re at a 4 percent reduction.”
The clip, filmed by a passenger and widely shared on TikTok, comes after a weekend of widespread flight disruptions. According to FlightAware, more than 2,900 flights were canceled and 10,000 delayed on Sunday alone as staffing shortages hit airports nationwide.
At Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport, travelers are still facing long TSA lines and potential delays, with flight reductions expected to increase this week.
Rental car companies say bookings are surging, with many travelers choosing to drive instead of fly amid the uncertainty.
As the pilot mentioned, the FAA says flight reductions could grow from 4% this weekend to 6% Monday and possibly up to 10% by Friday if the shutdown continues.
Lawmakers in Washington are reportedly making progress toward a resolution, but until a deal is finalized, travelers should expect more delays and cancellations through the busy holiday travel season.
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