• Burbank Airport's control tower unmanned for hours due to staffing shortages amid the government shutdown.
• Over 6,000 flights delayed across the U.S. including an average delay of 2.5 hours at Burbank.
• Staffing shortages lead to pilots managing flights directly over radio communication.

Hollywood Burbank Airport is currently facing significant delays due to an unmanned air traffic control tower, a situation exacerbated by the ongoing government shutdown. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed that the control tower started being staffed starting from 4:15 PM and was expected to remain unmanned until approximately 10:00 PM local time, affecting flights significantly during that window, as reported by latimes and indiatimes.

The current situation led to average delays of approximately 2.5 hours at Burbank, as flights were slowed down due to the staffing shortages across multiple airports including Denver, Phoenix, and Newark, according to bbc and cbsnews. The FAA has indicated that these delays were primarily due to an existing shortage of air traffic controllers, which has intensified with the ongoing shutdown.

As a result of the staffing crisis, pilots had to manage operations without controllers using a Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF), which is usually reserved for smaller airports, leading to increased flight times and further delays. When the control tower was closed, 37 departures were noted along with 33 arrivals at Burbank; however, the average delay was notably over two and a half hours, as reported by indiatimes.

The broader implications of the government shutdown have raised concerns over air traffic safety, as essential workers are expected to continue working without pay, with many calling in sick, further complicating management operations nationwide. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association reported increased sick leave during this crisis, ultimately leading to increased delays across the U.S. concerted efforts to address staffing shortages are critical as the shutdown prolongs, according to cbsnews and latimes.