LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — A ground delay at Harry Reid International Airport has passengers dealing with delays this evening.
After Channel 13 received an email from a viewer drawing attention to major wait times at the airport — as well as one of our own reporters facing the possible cancellation of her flight — we looked into it and found that a ground delay was in place, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The FAA's website also shows staffing issues as the main cause behind it.
"Due to STAFFING / STAFFING, departure traffic destined to Harry Reid International Airport, Las Vegas, NV (LAS) is currently experiencing delays averaging 2 hours and 52 minutes." — FAA
This is not the first time we've seen a staffing issue grind airport functions to a halt in Las Vegas. In March, we reported that Harry Reid International Airport had a combined 65 certified air controllers — well short of the target of 97.
Local News
Las Vegas air traffic controllers face severe staffing shortage
The average delays for flights at this time sit at just under three hours, with the longest running for roughly four hours.
We reached out to the Harry Reid International Airport to ask if they could elaborate on what the staffing issues consisted of. They shared the following statement with us:
"We can confirm that the FAA has implemented a ground delay program for LAS due to staffing shortages. At this time, average delays are approximately 172 minutes. For additional details regarding FAA staffing levels, please contact the FAA directly.
We encourage all travelers to monitor their flight status directly with their airline."
— Harry Reid International Airport spokesperson
If you're being impacted by these delays, we want to hear from you. Contact us at KTNV.com/letstalk to share your experience with us.
