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Flights have since resumed while staffers work without pay
On Monday from 4:15 to 10 p.m., the air traffic control towers at Hollywood Burbank Airport went unmanned.
The occurrence came as a result of staffing shortages at the regional airport, according to an advisory by the FAA that also reported an average 2.5-hour delay. During this time, Southern California TRACON ran operations remotely, which serves most airports across SoCal. It guides approximately 2.2 million planes yearly.
“Operations are continuing at Hollywood Burbank Airport,” the airport’s social media accounts shared on Monday evening. “Please check with your airline – before arriving at the airport – for updates on possible delays or cancellations.”
Staffing shortages came following the government shutdown on Sept. 30 after lawmakers failed to pass a funding bill for the Oct. 1 deadline. As a result, non-essential government services have been suspended and many federal employees and active-duty members are working without pay.
Air traffic controllers are among the government employees considered essential and are required to work without pay, which includes controllers who are already working mandatory overtime at 10 hours a day, six days a week.
The airport issues in Burbank were reflective of delays at airports across the country.
“Congress must act now to end this shutdown,” National Air Traffic Controllers Association President Nick Daniels said in an Oct. 1 statement. “When the federal government shuts down it introduces unnecessary distractions and our entire aviation system is weakened. Congress must restore federal funding so that the safety and efficiency of our National Airspace System is not compromised.”
Democrats were unable to reach a compromise on federal funding reportedly due to a healthcare dispute.
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California Gov. Gavin Newsom blamed President Donald J. Trump for Monday’s fiasco. “Burbank has ZERO air traffic controllers from 4:15pm to 10pm today because of YOUR government shutdown,” he tweeted.
In total, Burbank airport had 56 delays and 12 cancellations on Monday, all of which happened after 4 p.m.
At a press conference at Newark Liberty International Airport on Monday, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy noted they are tracking sick leave. “Have we had a slight tick up in sick calls? Yes. And then you’ll see delays that come from that, right? Because again, our priority, again, I want to see your flight not be delayed. I don’t want you canceled, but our priorities are safety. So if we have additional sick calls, we will reduce the flow consistent with a rate that’s safe for the American people.”
A spokesperson for the Hollywood Burbank airport shared with Los Angeles operations returned to normal Tuesday morning.
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Haley Bosselman
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