A Delta Airlines Boeing 757-200 passes the U.S. Capitol dome in Washington as it lands at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025.
Bill Clark | Cq-roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images
Delta Airlines said the government shutdown that ended last month cost it about $200 million in pretax profit as bookings slowed during the longest shutdown in U.S. history.
The airline said the earnings impact would be about 25 cents per share for the current quarter. In October, Delta forecast adjusted earnings of $1.60 to $1.90 per share for the fourth quarter.
Travel demand, however, remains healthy and bookings are strong through 2026, Delta reiterated in a securities filing Wednesday ahead of an industry conference.
The shortage of air traffic controllers worsened during the shutdown, and the Trump administration forced airlines to cut schedules to ease pressure on controllers. But even with that decision, delays and cancellations ended up being higher than expected in the days before the shutdown ended.
Air traffic controllers, already under strain before the closure, had to work without their regular salary during this period.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian and other airline executives have repeatedly pressed lawmakers and officials in Washington to ensure that air traffic controllers, Transportation Security Administration agents and other airline-related workers are paid in the event of another shutdown.