US: Inbound flights halted at New York's LaGuardia Airport January 25 /update 3

Event

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has halted all inbound flights to New York's LaGuardia Airport (LGA) amid a shortage of air traffic controllers as of roughly 10:00 (local time) on Friday, January 25. Officials have not provided further details on when the airport will resume normal operations. Staff shortages have also reportedly caused flight delays at Washington's Reagan National Airport (DCA), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Jacksonville International Airport (JAX), and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) as of Friday morning. Continued absences are expected at these and other American airports in the coming days or weeks if the ongoing partial US federal government shutdown is not resolved. Delays and congestion are possible at airport security checkpoints until the shutdown is resolved.

Context

The US federal government is partially shutdown due to a failure to pass a budget resolution. Air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees are among those who are expected to continue to work without pay during the shutdown.

Advice

Individuals traveling via LGA, and by plane in the US more generally, in the coming days and weeks are advised to monitor the situation and anticipate delays and crowded conditions at airport security checkpoints.