Delta suspends special treatment for Congress as shutdown sows airport chaos

Delta Air Lines said ⁠on Tuesday it would ⁠suspend special services for ⁠members of Congress, citing the impact of a partial government shutdown that has disrupted US air travel.

“Due to the impact on resources from the long-standing government shutdown, Delta will temporarily suspend ‌speciality services to members of Congress flying Delta.

“Next to safety, Delta’s no. 1 priority is taking care of our people and customers, which has become increasingly difficult in the current environment,” the Atlanta-based US air carrier said in a statement.

Members of Congress will not get airport escorts or VIP treatment for other services such as ‌seat upgrades or rebooking, the airline said, though lawmakers will still ⁠have access ⁠to a special phone line for reservations.

Travellers have endured hours-long waits at security screening checkpoints in ‌recent days as resignations and absentee rates have risen among Transportation Security Administration employees, who have gone ‌without pay ‌since mid-February, when Congress allowed funding for the Department of Homeland ‌Security to expire due to a dispute over immigration enforcement.