A staffing shortage at Los Angeles International Airport prompted a temporary ground stop affecting flights Sunday morning. The restriction began around 8:45 a.m. affecting departing flights for Oakland and was lifted at 10:30 a.m. with a possibility of being extended until 2 p.m., according to an FAA Air Traffic Control System Command Center advisory. Even after the resumption of flights, travelers were instructed to check the status of their flights.
Writing at the Los Angeles Times, Karen Garcia reports that the sign is set to be removed - albeit temporarily - so that the airport's system of roads can be expanded to alleviate traffic conditions there and make life easier on pedestrians making their way around the airport's grounds.As for why this is taking place now, Los Angeles World Airports' chief development officer Michael Christensen told the Times that it relates to two massive international events on the horizon: next year's World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics. The renovations that the temporary sign removal are part of are scheduled to run through 2030, and the Times notes that a date has not yet been set for the sign to be re-installed.
Over 72 million people nationwide are expected to travel more than 50 miles from June 28 to July 6, an increase of nearly 2 million travelers compared to last year. Around 61.6 million people are expected to travel by car over the holiday weekend, which is a 2.2% increase from last year.
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