Government Shutdown Impact on Air Travel - The government shutdown is beginning to cause disruptions to air travel [1] - The system has shown resilience with only a slight increase in delays and no spike in cancellations, resembling bad weather impact [2] - Air traffic control (ATC) and TSA employees going without pay could lead to increased absenteeism and potential ground stops for safety [3][4] - A prolonged shutdown extending into November could materially impact GDP [5] - Air travel is considered the lifeblood of the economy, and disruptions can have significant consequences [4][5][9][10] Airline Performance and Trends - Delta and United show broadly similar results with robust outlooks for the fourth quarter [6] - Both airlines are well-positioned to benefit from strong demand in corporate, premium, and international travel [6] - International travel shows an extended seasonality with more Americans traveling to Europe in October and around the holidays [6] - Full-service airlines are better equipped to cater to diverse customer needs through revenue segmentation and basic economy offerings [7] Potential Resolution Catalyst - Air travel disruptions might serve as a catalyst for resolving the government shutdown [4][8][9] - The aviation infrastructure's importance to the economy makes it a potential political football [9]