Flights to LAX halted due to air traffic controller shortage

Frustrating as this is for travelers, one can’t help but feel for federal employees enduring these difficult times. How many families can go weeks without pay and still be expected to show up to work each day?

I think all of us hope there is resolution soon.

Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich predicted weeks ago the one thing that will force the hands of the GOP in Washington to end the Federal government shutdown would be Air Traffic Controllers not showing up for work.

More and more Air Traffic Controllers are calling in sick at an accelerating rate while not receiving their paychecks.

Powerful people don’t like not being able to fly when and where they want.

And they hold sway with this government.

David, thanks for the update. It would be nice to have a thread for updates on the air controller issues impacting travel plans, and we can if we can keep the political opinion out of it.

What we really need is the ATC and TSA at the DC area airports to get organized. When our elected officials get "Stuck" they tend to get unstuck in their duties. (IF they could effect the "golf trips" it might be even better but I assume those are all controlled by military :) )

Now we’re hearing that tomorrow will be San Francisco and of course we have a flight tomorrow because we need to be in San Francisco on Tuesday morning. This is so irritating!!!

Edit: I took out my more lengthy opinion on it all…..it would be nice to have a thread so others know what to expect but I agree it’s not going to happen if we start in on the politics.

I heard on a TV newscast that some controllers were having to take on other jobs in order to have some cash coming in thus decreasing their availability for their 'primary' job.

As time goes by this will only become more common.

If only 80% of staff shows up, only 80% of flights can be processed, so the restrictions are employed.

Safety first, convenience second.

margie, its tough to suck it up, no easier for me.

I feel for so many people right now but I am so glad that I am not traveling or planning. a trip right now.

I was very worried about coming home from Seoul last Sunday, just a week ago, but everything went smoothly.

Carol now retired, thank you for keeping all of the federal workers in your thoughts. This is a very difficult time for them, especially for the military families and the young emerging civilian fed professionals who have not built up any significant savings to fall back on. I think our problems as travelers can be seen in a different light when you consider their current situation.

Edit: I took out my more lengthy opinion on it all…..it would be nice to have a thread so others know what to expect but I agree it’s not going to happen if we start in on the politics.

Doesn't have to be political. Both parties have forced government shutdowns in years past and this is no different. "Takes two to Tango".

The original post was just factual about LAX. I suggest we pretend we are journalists from decades ago when just mere facts were reported without "opinions" as to who is at "fault".

I am keeping an eye on this as well since we are due to fly on Wednesday. We will get to the airport even earlier than usual, just in case. Worst case, the trip gets cancelled. Keeping things in perspective as this is not the end of the world to us, but obviously that is not what we want to happen.

"The original post was just factual about LAX. I suggest we pretend we are journalists from decades ago when just mere facts were reported without "opinions" as to who is at "fault"."

No, that's not how it worked.

The easiest way to slant news is to hire people/reporters who think that way in the first place. No "mere facts".

What was reported and what wasn't was always mixed in with politics. Many other considerations for "no mere facts".

Yep, Robert's spot on. Unbiased media is a myth, and always has been.

It's surely an intrinsically political issue, created by politicians and their political machinations. As an outsider, the question I'd be asking is "how tf can a government shut down?". Surely that's a massive hole in the operating procedures around how a government works? They just stop serving their people? Maybe I'm missing something.

I’ll try and report how it went with TSA and getting into SFO later tonight IF this thread is open.

Gerry, what? No shutdowns in the UK? I am beginning to wonder if the whole 1776 business and the american revolution was a bad idea.... But I am not big on the whole king idea though. Could we join back up except without the king business? And if so, could we resolve the northern ireland thing first? I kinda think the whole marching season is a bit off-putting?  I saw this show Derry Girls and they did not seem to enjoy it....

But back to air-traffic controllers. I am in favor of them getting paid. Seems to me to be kinda essential for esprit de corps and all that. I want my air traffic controllers to be happy!

Happy travels.

About potential stoppage at SFO today - We live literally under the approach to SFO and it looks like flights are running well today, both arrivals and departures. Maybe check with the airport for details so there's less travel stress! https://www.flysfo.com/passengers/flight-info/flight-status.

PS, If you click on the top of the link about 'government shutdown' this pops up -

At this time, the Federal Government shutdown is not impacting SFO’s checkpoint screening services. Security screeners at SFO are employees with Covenant Aviation Security, not TSA, and thus will continue to be paid during the shutdown.

am not big on the whole king idea though.

I'm not big on the whole monarchy idea either, so you're not alone there. Not terribly important in the grand scheme of things imho. Think of all the stationary that would have to reprinted if we got rid of them. It would cost a fortune! :)

You're throwing a bit of a curveball with Northern Ireland. Get practicing The Sash on your flute and maybe you could learn to love marching season. Maybe not lol

Anyway, I'm not adding much to this thread. Enough! Carry on!

official NAS link - https://nasstatus.faa.gov/
as of 27 Oct 1319, LGA on a ground stop due to volume. RSW delay due to volume. Others are delaying due to wx.

Thank you Sandancisco. So far my United app says everything is a go without delays going into SFO. And that might explain why security at SFO was in such good spirits a couple of weeks ago when we went thru!

At this time, the Federal Government shutdown is not impacting SFO’s checkpoint screening services. Security screeners at SFO are employees with Covenant Aviation Security, not TSA, and thus will continue to be paid during the shutdown.

Presumably they have a government contract. I wonder how long Covenant can pay their employees without receiving their government payments? It looks like a ticking time bomb for them as well; the length of the fuse is how much cash Covenant has in reserve.

Yep, Robert's spot on. Unbiased media is a myth, and always has been.
It's surely an intrinsically political issue, created by politicians and their political machinations. As an outsider, the question I'd be asking is "how tf can a government shut down?". Surely that's a massive hole in the operating procedures around how a government works? They just stop serving their people? Maybe I'm missing something.

Interesting take. "Surely that's a massive hole in the operating procedures around how a government works? How can a government shut down?" Simple answer...true democracy. The US has separations of powers unlike governments in the UK or Canada where generally the executive (PM) agrees with the majority of the parliament and a shutdown would be rare.

The US has to have an approved spending bill passed by Congress by October 1st every year. It is not like this was a big surprise. It is almost like strikes that cripple train transportation in Europe.

My point wasn't about defining the media today or in the yesteryears. It was just to make a point that if flights in and out of any airport affects people, just say it. It only becomes political when you try to assign blame. There is a enough of that to go around on all sides. Political blame makes people feel good, but the flight is still cancelled or delayed and never fixes a problem.

So Gerry, you are telling me I have to learn to play the flute and march? Can I play the banjo instead? I always liked that song Rainbow Connection that Kermit the Frog used to sing....

But I'm not so sure I'm grooving on this notion any longer. How about we just start paying the air traffic controllers instead?

Happy travels!

How about we just start paying the air traffic controllers instead?

I don't dare to say much else in this thread, but that's the best idea someone's had all day.

I'm sure I could squeeze a Deliverance joke in around the banjo playing somewhere but I best not.

Best not. :)

I was born in East Tennessee. Not too far from the Smokey Mountains.

I’m flying into LA from our small local airport and then on to Chicago to end up in northeastern PA. on Wednesday. I wonder where I might get stuck!

Flight from Bend into SFO yesterday was 40 minutes delayed. It didn’t affect us but there were nine people that were stressed about making their connections. This was the first time I’ve seen the flight attendant actually call out people for getting up when she had asked that we all remain seated so those nine people could get off first. I was impressed….lots of people not happy about this situation with delays.

Today it’s being reported the lack of enough Air Traffic Controllers is causing delays of 90 minutes at Ronald Reagan Washington Airport.

Kenko, I am beginning to think that no good will come from not paying air traffic controllers. Not a fan of this I daresay.

Happy travels.

No problems yesterday coming back in from Paris to Seattle and from Seattle onwards to Spokane. The airport was working as it normally does including Border Control, TSA and flights being on-time for arrivals and departures.

No problems yesterday coming back in from Paris to Seattle and from Seattle onwards to Spokane. The airport was working as it normally does including Border Control, TSA and flights being on-time for arrivals and departures.

Sure hope you bought a lotto ticket while karma was on your side.

@Joe…yes, Karma was on my side. I had a quick transit time to my Spokane flight but made it with time to spare. I was the first one off the plane at S11 or so. There was zero line at the Global Entry kiosks, so had my picture snapped and was waved thru with zero questions. I made a quick comfort stop in that area as there was no line there either, lol. Security had a short line but was thru quickly and to my “B” gate 20 minutes before boarding started. And yes, I should have made my brother stop for a lottery ticket!

Under normal circumstances with none of this unpleasantness , ie not receiving one's due pay, work load, etc, I much prefer OAK over SFO as regards to TSA, and all that sort of thing. Given a choice, obviously dep from OAK rather than SFO would be my decision.

I don’t know Fred, the last few times we’ve been thru TSA pre check at SFO, I’m down there every three weeks for two days, they have been very quick and the agents have actually smiled and, god forbid, joked! They didn’t even growl when my husband forgot to take off his Apple Watch but laughed.

Many more Air Traffic Controllers throughout the U.S. are no longer reporting to work, as the US government shutdown continues.

Yesterday, October 31, 90% of Air traffic Controllers at New York area airports did not report to work. Widespread flight delays of about four hours at the New York airports— JFK, La Guardia and Newark—were reported by the FAA.

The same four-hour delays were the average at the airport in Orlando, Florida. The evening before, all flights into Orlando were halted due to the staffing shortfall.

The Thanksgiving holiday, when millions of Americans traditionally fly to family reunions, is now less than four weeks away.

Flight delays averaging two hours were also reported yesterday by the FAA at airports in the metropolitan areas of Boston, Phoenix, Houston, Dallas, San Francisco and Washington DC.

NYC and probably the northeast were impacted by a substantial storm yesterday which caused flooding and sadly some loss of life. This likely aggravated the ATC issues.

https://www.flightaware.com/miserymap/

The misery index rises.

DFW Terminal D working as well as always this evening. I said thanks for being there as I went through. Doesn’t hurt.

That’s odd. Because today Flight Aware is reporting that the airports of Dallas-Fort Worth, .LAX and Denver are the three U.S. airports with the most flight cancellations and delays today,

LAX and Denver were not reported by the FAA as airports witht the most flight delays and. cancellations. Just yesterday.

It seems the lack of having enough Air traffic Controllers is taking an increasing toll on US airports and travel.in general.

Anyone planning to fly somewhere this Thanksgiving ?

Kenko

Hopefully this might all be over by Thanksgiving and that the only thing passengers will have to deal with is weather.

Has anyone found the information on the amount of increase in delays and cancellations? I’ve looked and for some reason that isn’t being identified. Their paycheck is now 4 days late, let’s see how much longer they have to wait. I saw the salaries they get. Seriously? People taking care of human life under incredibly stressful conditions making $25 an hour? They really need to consider putting a significant tax on airline tickets that goes straight to their pockets ... no appropriations. Hey, thats a great idea. The same for military pay and for architect retirement funds.

EDIT: Numbers are being tossed around, but no one wants to say how much worse it has gotten because of the shutdown. That always makes me suspicious. If 90% of the staff didn’t show up, I don’t see how the airport was able to operate at all, so I am suspicious of that too.

Without the press doing their job I have been poking thorough the internet looking for how many flights one might expect to be cancelled or delayed in good weather in October. My perception is that the current situation of cancellations and delays is something less than twice the average, so something less than 2% of the flights are being canceled. And the cancelations and delays are not as bad as many common foul weather situations.

G-d bless the Air Traffic Controllers and TSA for stepping up and getting it done pretty good, all things considered. And where do I write to demand you guys get an increase in salary. If you want to track it: https://www.airlines.org/dataset/current-operation-status-for-us-airports/ But without past history context its sort of difficult to get excited about.

I guess I got lucky. My last little hopper flight out of DFW was delayed about 30 min - but that was the end of the day when delays add up and isn’t unusual. DFW has a TON of weather issues, though, so it might be difficult to know how much to attribute to that versus air traffic control. I was expecting a potentially long line for security, which I didn’t encounter. And GE took me 15-20 seconds longer than just walking through. I fly again domestically this weekend - so we’ll see.

"It seems the lack of having enough Air traffic Controllers is taking an increasing toll on US airports and travel.in general."

The shortage in Air Traffic Controllers might be softened by a claimed slowdown in flights. Hard to say with "Without the press doing their job".

https://dollarflightclub.com/articles/holiday-airfare-down-as-much-as-40/

[snip]
Softening demand from a weakening economy, increased seat capacity, and plummeting visits from abroad have led to cheaper flights from or around the USA during the holidays. Prices are lower than they have been for years. This report from Dollar Flight Club shows that domestic holiday flight prices are down an average of 19% across the board and international flight prices are down 9%.

"*Softening demand from a weakening economy, increased seat capacity, and plummeting visits from abroad *"

Again one data point but ALL my recent flights - Spokane-Seattle, Seattle-Paris, Paris-Seattle, Seattle-Spokane were completely full. As in, announcements made that people in the last boarding sections will need to gate check their bags so you might as well do it now kind of things.

Maybe that's the flight cancellations, moving partially filled ones to full?

Don't know. There's that "reporters doing their jobs" again.

My flight to and from thr US in September was full. Maybe they scaled back the number of flights. Dont know.

But it not just the US with issues: Europe sounds as bad, maybe worse?

https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/thousands-of-passengers-left-grounded-in-europe-including-ireland-switzerland-uk-france-netherlands-as-emerald-swiss-british-air-france-klm-faces-88-flight-cancellations-and-698-delays-across/

Instead of risking a cancelled flight in CA over Thanksgiving , I am taking Amtrak, already bought the tickets rather than waiting literally the last minute, normally my usual behaviour but not over Thanksgiving obviously.

Our flight home was cancelled. We got word yesterday and they said it was due to the air traffic controllers. We did finally get rebooked for a red eye, but they said TSA was having issues here too so even for a domestic flight to arrive at least 2-5 hours early. This is from Kona back to Seattle.

Curious how tomorrow will pan out. We arrive in the morning and my husband has barely enough time to repack and get back to the airport for a business trip. Not sure if that flight will go or not.

We get home when we get home. Can’t stress about it. Dogs are at our daughters so well cared for.