Impact of Staffing Shortages: Hollywood Burbank Airport Faces Air Traffic Control Challenges This Monday Night

The Hollywood Burbank Airport faced significant flight delays on Monday night due to a shortage of air traffic controllers. From 4:15 p.m. to 10 p.m., the airport had no controllers available, resulting in long wait times for travelers.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) highlighted ongoing staffing issues across the system. An FAA spokesperson explained that when staffing is low, they restrict traffic to maintain safety. California Governor Gavin Newsom noted on social media that the lack of controllers was linked to the federal government shutdown.

Around 4:30 p.m., airport officials advised passengers to check their flight status with airlines due to possible delays or cancellations. By 5 p.m., several planes were already waiting to take off. Reports later showed over 25 arrival delays and 17 departure delays, with some canceled flights rerouted to Los Angeles International Airport.

After 10 p.m., the airport tower was staffed again. Meanwhile, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association urged its members to keep working during the shutdown. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy discussed the growing number of sick calls from controllers who are currently unpaid.

This shutdown mirrors a similar situation from December 2018 to January 2019, when a 34-day shutdown led to widespread flight limitations due to high sick leave among air traffic controllers and TSA workers.

Currently, about 90% of U.S. airport control towers report staffing shortfalls, according to CBS News analysis of FAA data. This issue has been rising as travel demand increases, emphasizing the need for a robust solution to air traffic controller shortages.

For more information, you can read about the FAA’s concerns regarding air traffic controller shortages.

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