() One of California’s busiest airports was left with no air traffic controllers as the government shutdown continues.
The Hollywood Burbank Airport’s control tower was unstaffed from 4:15 p.m. to 10 p.m. local time on Monday, as reported by The Los Angeles Times. This staffing shortage resulted in outgoing flights being delayed by an average of two hours and 31 minutes, and a total of 12 flights were canceled.
Burbank had to look to San Diego for air traffic controllers to make sure flights could take off and land safely while it experienced the shortage.
These challenges are not unique to Burbank, as airports across the country have been experiencing similar delays. Newark’s airport reported delays on 19% of its flights, while airports in cities such as Denver, Vegas, Phoenix, and Detroit have also faced comparable issues.
More than 4,000 flights were delayed nationwide Monday.
On Monday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy visited air traffic controllers, providing lunch and holding a press briefing. Duffy noted that many controllers he spoke with expressed concerns about affording child care and the necessity of seeking second jobs due to financial strains.
“Their main worry is whether they will receive a paycheck,” Duffy stated during the briefing. “With paychecks expected next week, their focus now shifts to managing mortgage and car payments, and to putting food on the table,” he added.
Regardless of the shutdown, there are 13,000 air traffic controllers who still have to come to work without pay until it ends.
