Chris Sununu

It's a it's a it's a strategic national asset.

Right.

If you think about it on a worldwide scale.

But for some folks here.

It's just the opportunity to go visit a loved one that they didn't get to see for a while or expand a business in a way that they didn't think was possible before.

So we take that responsibility very seriously in the airline industry.

It's a group effort and it's just been a terrific journey.

And there's so much more to go.

I think that's the exciting part ahead.

You bet.

The head of Airlines for America, Chris Sununu, told the Senate Aviation Subcommittee that airlines support a bill that would ensure that air traffic controllers get paid during future government shutdowns.

The FAA says it was forced to reduce the number of flights at major airports because of staffing shortages of air traffic controllers who were required to work without pay.

Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth urged regulators to release the data behind that decision, suggesting the Trump administration may have weaponized the aviation system to score political points during the shutdown.

Joel Rose, NPR News, Washington.

The head of Airlines for America, Chris Sununu, told the Senate Aviation Subcommittee that airlines support a bill that would ensure that air traffic controllers get paid during future government shutdowns.

The FAA says it was forced to reduce the number of flights at major airports because of staffing shortages of air traffic controllers who were required to work without pay.

Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth urged regulators to release the data behind that decision, suggesting the Trump administration may have weaponized the aviation system to score political points during the shutdown.

Joel Rose, NPR News, Washington.

Airlines seem pretty confident that they can ramp up quickly.

I mean, once the air traffic control situation is stabilized, maybe within just a few days of getting the word from the FAA.