Staffing issues cause temporary ground shutdown at LAX

Nearly four weeks after the federal government shutdown, a staffing shortage at Los Angeles International Airport led to a temporary ground stop Sunday morning that affected flights at the West Coast’s largest and busiest airport.

The ban began at 8:45 a.m., affecting departing flights to Oakland, and was lifted at 10:30 a.m., according to an advisory from the FAA’s Air Traffic Control System Command Center.

The outage affected much of Southern California, with passengers experiencing flight delays of about 49 minutes, with some waiting up to 87 minutes, according to KTLA.

Even after flights have resumed, passengers have been advised to check the status of their flights.

Since the federal shutdown began on October 1, the Federal Aviation Administration has warned of disruptions at airports due to staffing shortages. Air traffic controllers are required to work without pay when the federal government shuts down and do not receive back pay until Congress reaches an agreement on the budget.

Less than a week after the shutdown, dozens of flights were delayed and 12 flights were canceled because the air traffic control tower at Hollywood-Burbank Airport was temporarily unstaffed due to the shortage. Outbound flights were delayed an average of 2 hours and 31 minutes.

Airports across the country are experiencing staffing shortages in their air traffic control towers this month. On Sunday afternoon, the Federal Aviation Administration’s operating plan listed several major airports experiencing “staffing disruptions,” from LAX to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Virginia and Philadelphia International Airport in Pennsylvania.

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Sunday that the problem is getting worse because more controllers are not getting paid and sick.

“I talk to air traffic controllers and you can see the stress,” Duffy said on Fox News. “These are people who often live paycheck to paycheck or have a stay-at-home wife. They’re worried about gas in the car, they’re worried about childcare and the mortgage.”

As of Saturday, 22 airports had staff shortages, Duffy said.

“This is one of the highest we’ve seen in the system since the shutdown began,” he said. “And that’s a sign that the controller is wearing thin.”

California Governor Gavin Newsom’s press office was quick to respond to reports of problems at LAX and Good Duffy.

“Hell of a job, @SecDuffy,” Newsom’s office posted on X, sharing a news story about the LAX ground shutdown. “Can’t wait to see what you do with NASA.”

This isn’t the first time a federal shutdown has caused national flight disruptions.

In January 2019, a large number of air traffic controllers called in sick in New York City, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration to temporarily suspend flights to LaGuardia Airport.

The chaos at LaGuardia – and news coverage of airport delays and threats to aviation safety – quickly pushed politicians to come to an agreement. But this year, Republicans and Democrats in Washington appear to be deadlocked and nowhere near a deal.