United Airlines Holdings Inc. (UAL  ) CEO Scott Kirby has urged lawmakers to end the government shutdown, as long queues at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints across airports wreak havoc in the aviation sector. In an interview with CBS News on Tuesday, the CEO shared that the airline couldn't hold flights if there was a 5-hour wait. "It's just ridiculous to me that it has to get bad before they can get a deal done," Kirby lamented, before urging Congress and lawmakers on both ends of the political spectrum to reach an agreement. "Please get the deal done soon," he said.

When asked whether the shutdown would have any effect on ticket fares, Kirby said that fares would surge. "Air fares will go up, and we'll probably be less profitable in the short term," he said, adding that fares were up 15-20% in the last month.

The shutdown comes as lawmakers remain in a deadlock over the funding of DHS after incidents involving ICE agents resulted in multiple civilians being killed.

ICE At TSA Checkpoints

President Donald Trump's administration okayed the deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at security checkpoints across airports amid a shortage of TSA staff, who have missed their paychecks as the partial shutdown shows no sign of relenting.

Trump has been criticized by several leaders, including Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), as well as California Governor Gavin Newsom (D), who called Trump "incompetent" for deploying ICE across airports. Since the shutdown began, over 450 TSA officers have quit, and many others have resorted to alternative income sources.

Elsewhere, Trump has also been criticized by union leaders, who slammed the decision, calling it an "insult" and a "waste of money." Hydrick Thomas, who serves as the president of AFGE TSA Council 100 and AFGE Local 2222, criticized the deployment, saying that the job required specialized screening judgment and passenger assistance, which was beyond the scope of a tactical unit.

United Airline's Relax Row

In the midst of the chaos, United unveiled its new long-haul economy product that can turn three adjacent seats into a couch-like space. Dubbed the "relax row," United will launch the product next year and expand it to over 200 Boeing Co. (BA  ) 787 and 777 widebody aircraft by the end of the decade.

According to Benzinga Edge Rankings, United scores well on the Value and Growth metrics, offering a favorable price trend in the Long term.