Mon, Mar 24, 2025
Airport Rejected Flights from Bush, Hobby, and New Orleans Airports
On March 21, the FAA issued a temporary ground stop at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) for flights arriving from Houston and Dallas airspaces. Though it was lifted same-day, the delays reignited concerns over air traffic control shortages that have been haunting AUS for years.
The ground stop was first issued at 10:30 am for flights arriving in Austin via the Houston airspace, affecting departures from George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) and William P. Hobby (HOU). Half an hour later, it was extended to the Dallas airspace, tying Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW) and Dallas Love Field (DAL) departures into the mix. Travelers from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY) were also encouraged to keep an eye on their flights.
The FAA lifted the ground stop just after noon, but lingering effects set Austin back for several hours. It is estimated that just over 400 flights were impacted as a result.
Airport officials and FAA representatives confirmed that ‘staffing’ of air traffic control was to blame for the ground stop. No more details were provided, leaving many wondering whether there was just an extraordinarily high amount of traffic or if it was caused by a deeper issue. As expected, city officials had a clear opinion on the matter.
“This is why I've been demanding action on the critical air traffic controller staffing crisis. Travelers deserve safety and reliability,” remarked Vanessa Fuentes, District 2 representative for the Austin City Council. “The FAA must address this emergency now - not after a tragedy forces their hand.”
US Representative Lloyd Doggett of Austin, Texas has been pushing for the FAA to address the airport’s controller shortage for years, using the brief ground stop to revive discussions. At the end of 2024, Austin Airport had 33 certified controllers on staff compared to the 60 that the FAA had previously planned to employ.
“Central Texans continue to be unnecessarily inconvenienced because of the FAA’s failure to do its job. With less than half the number of air traffic controllers we should have… my overriding concern is safety," Doggett stated.
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