Airports manage staff as government shutdown delays flights
Despite the government shutdown, essential businesses and staff are working at the airport. As the closure continues, the risk of aircraft delays remains.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, flights were temporarily grounded at Los Angeles International Airport on October 26 due to staffing shortages in Southern California airspace.
The restrictions affect flights departing from Oakland, California, and went into effect around 8:45 a.m. local time, according to an advisory from the FAA Air Traffic Control System Command Center. The order was lifted around 10:30 a.m., but the FAA warned it could be extended.
The FAA said in an advisory that the ground stop only affected flights between Los Angeles and Oakland, but travelers experienced a total delay of more than 900 minutes. The average flight delay was about 49 minutes, with some flights delayed by up to 87 minutes, according to the FAA.
The FAA said delays may continue even after flights resume and advised travelers to monitor flight status. The temporary ground stop comes after U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned of increased flight disruptions in the coming days as air traffic controllers will not receive their first full paycheck Oct. 28 amid the federal government shutdown.
Duffy told Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” program that the FAA had 22 “triggers” on Oct. 25 indicating a shortage of air traffic controllers. He called the numbers “one of the highest we’ve seen in this system” since Oct. 1.
“That’s a sign that the controller is worn out,” Duffy said.
Duffy said earlier this month that the government shutdown has added stress to already overworked and understaffed air traffic controllers. He previously said air traffic control facilities have seen an increase in calls from air traffic controllers calling in sick since the shutdown began on October 1, with some having as many as 50% of their employees absent on any given day.
Newsom blames Trump administration for air traffic controller shortage
Following the temporary ground suspension at Los Angeles International Airport, California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office blamed the Trump administration for the disruption.
“Tough job, @SecDuffy,” Newsom’s news organization wrote on X, sharing a news article about the ground stop. “I can’t wait to see what you do with NASA.”
Earlier this month, Newsom criticized President Donald Trump for the lack of air traffic controllers at Los Angeles County’s Hollywood Burbank Airport. On October 6, the FAA announced that the air traffic control tower at Burbank Airport would be unmanned due to staffing shortages.
“Thank you, @realDonaldTrump! Due to the government shutdown, there will be zero air traffic controllers at Burbank Airport from 4:15pm to 10pm today,” the governor wrote in a social media post on Oct. 6.
Staff shortages cause chaos at multiple U.S. airports
More than 5,400 U.S. flights were delayed on Oct. 25, and more than 5,700 as of 3 p.m. local time on Oct. 26, according to aviation tracking website FlightAware. Since the shutdown began, delays have often been above average. Weather issues are also impacting flights.
By noon ET on October 26, the FAA had recorded air traffic controller shortages at six U.S. airports.
According to the FAA, staffing shortages caused disruptions at Newark Liberty International Airport and Teteboro Airport in New Jersey on Oct. 26. The agency also said air traffic control staffing issues have been reported for the Chicago flight.
Transportation Secretary Duffy says air traffic controllers are looking for other sources of income
Speaking on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures,” Duffy predicted that the shortage of air traffic controllers would worsen and that flight delays and cancellations would increase in the coming days.
Air traffic controllers, who received 90% of their regular salary two weeks ago, will not receive their first full salary on October 28. Controllers facing the prospect of not receiving a federal salary are looking for other sources of income, Duffy said.
“They’re working on the side, they’re out looking,” he said.
About 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration employees will have to work without pay during the shutdown. The FAA is about 3,500 short of its target staffing level for air traffic controllers, and many were required to work overtime or six-day weeks even before the shutdown.
Contributor: Zach Wichter, USA TODAY. Reuters
