BUSINESS NEWS MAY 10, 2019 / 5:01 PM / UPDATED 42 MINUTES AGO

Airlines, travel industry warn of excessive U.S. entry wait times

David Shepardson
3 MIN READ

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Groups representing major U.S. airlines, airports and travel industry companies on Friday urged U.S. Senate leaders to back additional funding for Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officers as the Trump administration said on Friday it was shifting additional officers to the southwestern border.

Airlines for America, representing American Airlines Group Inc, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines Co, Fedex Corp and others, joined major U.S. airport groups, the U.S. Travel Association, Global Business Travel Association and the International Air Transport Association, to back additional emergency funding and warned of the impact of shifting more officers from airports and other ports of entry.

“While understandable, a robbing Peter to pay Paul staffing paradigm is unsustainable. The traveling and shipping public should not be subjected to excessive wait times, and we need to avoid inflicting damage on commerce and the overall U.S. economy,” the letter said.

Last week, the White House sought $4.5 billion for southwestern border operations, citing an influx of people crossing the border.

The Trump administration earlier this year shifted 300 CBP agents to the southern border, the groups said.

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