Before holidays, airport delays worsen

Shutdown and air traffic controller shortage have already created travel havoc.

- HANNAH FRY

LOS ANGELES International Airport experienced an average flight delay of at least an hour on Sunday amid the government shutdown.

JULIANA YAMADA Los Angeles Times

The government shutdown is beginning to cause more sustained delays at airports across the country due to a shortage in air traffic controllers that could get worse as the busy holiday travel season approaches.

Airport interruptions have been largely sporadic. But this weekend was the worst for air traffic control staffing since the shutdown began last month. The Federal Aviation Administration reported Friday that a “surge in callouts” among air traffic controllers had left at least half of the 30 busiest airports across the country understaffed, leading to widespread delays.

Two of Southern California’s busiest airports — Los Angeles International Airport and San Diego International Airport — experienced average flight delays of at least an hour on Sunday.

And it might be just the beginning as the government shutdown, soon expected to be the longest on record, heads into its second month at the same time as travelers prepare to fly to spend time with loved ones around Thanksgiving.

“I think it’s only going to get worse,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in an interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”

Nearly 13,000 air traffic controllers have been working without pay for weeks, resulting in high levels of fatigue and stress among staff tasked with keeping the skies safe while wrestling with personal financial pressures.