FAA lifts LAX–Oakland ground stop after staffing shortage
By Matteo Floris
Last updated on 9 February 2026
A staffing shortage at an Oakland air traffic control facility triggered a short FAA ground stop on flights from Oakland to Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday morning. The restriction began around 8:30–8:45 a.m. PT and was lifted by 10:30 a.m. PT. Average delays were about 49 minutes, with some up to 87 minutes. Only the Oakland–LAX corridor was affected. Knock-on delays continued as airlines and crews repositioned. Some carriers waived same-day change fees. Passengers were advised to monitor airline alerts and the FAA status page.
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A brief FAA ground stop affected flights from Oakland to Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday morning due to staffing shortages at an Oakland air traffic control facility. The restriction began at approximately 8:30–8:45 a.m. Pacific Time and was lifted by 10:30 a.m. PT.
The interruption produced significant delays on the corridor. Average delays were reported at about 49 minutes, with some flights experiencing waits of up to 87 minutes. Although the ground stop ended mid-morning, residual delays continued as aircraft and crews were repositioned to restore normal scheduling.
The impact was limited to the Los Angeles–Oakland flight corridor, and no other airports were reported as affected. The underlying cause was a staffing shortfall at the Oakland air traffic control center. This shortage was described as being exacerbated by an ongoing federal government shutdown, during which approximately 13,000 air traffic controllers were working without pay and absentee rates at some facilities reportedly reached around 50 percent.
Airlines indicated a range of delays, from about 15 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes, as the system recovered. Some carriers waived same-day change fees to accommodate disrupted travelers. Passengers were advised to watch airline notifications and the FAA’s status page for updates, allow extra time for connections, and keep records of delays as proof when needed.
At present, there is no confirmed total for the number of flights or passengers affected. The core facts are that the ground stop has been lifted, delays were concentrated on the Oakland–LAX corridor, and staffing issues were the primary cause.
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Rerouting or refund
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Food and essential care
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Accommodation
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Quick facts
Disruption:
Delay
Cause:
Other
Compensation:
Not eligible for compensation
Status:
Past disruption
Checked by:
Matteo Floris
Date updated:
9 February 2026
