US: Airlines, travel industry warn of excessive entry wait times

Groups representing major US airlines, airports and travel industry companies Friday urged US Senate leaders to back additional funding for Customs and Border Patrol officers as the Trump administration said Friday it was shifting additional officers to the southwestern border. A4A joined other major travel groups and IATA to back additional emergency funding and warned of the impact of shifting more officers from airports and other ports of entry. “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 US economy," their letter said. Airports and other groups earlier this month backed Senate legislation that would hire at least 600 new CBP agents annually. <br/>