"Once again, air travel is the political football amid another government shutdown," the executives wrote in an open letter to Congress.

"Once again, air travel is the political football amid another government shutdown," the executives wrote in an open letter to Congress.

”It’s difficult, if not impossible, to put food on the table, put gas in the car and pay rent when you are not getting paid," the letter said.

A group of aviation CEOs sent a letter to Congress asking it to end the partial government shutdown and pay TSA, customs and air traffic controllers.

The heads of American, Delta, Southwest and JetBlue are demanding a fix as TSA agents quit, security lines grow, and 171 million spring travelers wait.

Travellers faced long queues at some airports at the weekend, after transport security workers missed their first full paycheck on Friday.

More than 300 agents have quit since the partial shutdown began Feb. 14, according to the Department of Homeland Security.