Travelers flying into Phoenix experienced significant delays Thursday after the Federal Aviation Administration implemented a ground delay program at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport because of air traffic controller staffing shortages.
According to an FAA advisory, the delay program took effect around 1:30 p.m. and was scheduled to remain in place until 1 a.m. Friday. The restrictions reduced the airport’s arrival rate to 36 flights per hour as officials worked to manage air traffic with limited staffing resources.
The FAA’s Air Traffic Control System Command Center identified tower staffing constraints as the sole reason for the delays, classifying the situation as a medium-level operational disruption.
Flight delays were expected to worsen during the evening travel period, with the greatest impacts projected between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. During that timeframe, arriving flights were expected to average more than an hour behind schedule. The longest delays were forecast to exceed 100 minutes.
The disruption comes as Phoenix Sky Harbor continues to handle heavy passenger traffic, particularly during the busy summer travel season.
Passengers traveling through the airport were encouraged to check with their airlines for updated flight information and potential schedule changes as the staffing-related restrictions remained in effect.
