FAA issues ground stop at Austin airport over staffing issues; 160 flights delayed
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on Wednesday, delaying more than 100 flights amid ongoing staffing shortages — part of a broader national trend straining the air traffic control system.
The disruption comes as Newark Liberty International Airport, one of the nation's busiest hubs, enters its fourth week of significant delays and, more recently, flight caps due to a combination of staffing shortages, recent technological failures, and ongoing runway construction.
The FAA, currently facing a shortfall of thousands of air traffic controllers, recently terminated hundreds of probationary employees and is now scrambling to recruit replacements under the guidance of the Department of Government Efficiency.
Currently, more than 160 flights are delayed or canceled in Austin.
More: Free bags no more: Here's the last day to book tickets with free checked bags at Southwest
According to the FAA website, the ground stop, which temporarily halts incoming flights, is scheduled to end by 9 p.m. Currently, the average delay is about 49 minutes.
See up-to-date information on Texas' 10 busiest airports.
Austin
Dallas-Fort Worth
El Paso
Houston (IAH)
Houston (HOU)
Love Field
Lubbock
McAllen
Midland-Odessa
San Antonio
To view flights at smaller airports in Texas, visit FlightAware and search by flight number or location.
The Department of Transportation created a dashboard for travelers to easily access information about services that U.S. airlines provide in the case of cancellations or delays.
Click here to access the DOT Cancellation and Delay Dashboard.
A new rule from the DOT that went into effect at the end of October requires airlines to refund passengers if their flight is significantly delayed for reasons within the carrier's control and also makes airlines more responsible for following their own customer commitments in those cases.
(This story was updated to add a photo gallery.)
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: FAA issues ground stop in Austin over staff shortages. See delays
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