Ground Stop Lifted at Charlotte Douglas Airport Amid Staffing Challenges

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A ground stop at Charlotte Douglas International Airport was issued Saturday morning due to staffing shortages and was lifted around 8:47 a.m. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had initially planned the stop, which started at 7:35 a.m., to last until 9:30 a.m.

During the ground stop, flights departing from northeastern U.S. cities and Canadian locations, including Boston, New York, Washington, D.C., Ottawa, and Toronto, were held on the ground. This action led to an increase in flight delays, with average wait times rising to 78 minutes, up from 71 minutes earlier in the morning. Some flights faced delays of up to 96 minutes.

A spokesperson for Charlotte Douglas Airport released a statement, highlighting the airport’s fortunate situation to reach the sixth weekend of the federal government shutdown with minimal operational impacts. However, they noted that the staffing constraints in the Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower contributed to delays and cancellations.

“With a prolonged federal shutdown, disruptions become more likely,” the statement read, urging passengers to check their flight status and arrive at least two hours early for domestic and three hours early for international flights.

As of 10:15 p.m. Saturday, Charlotte Douglas International Airport recorded 147 flight cancellations, leading the nation in number, with 41 cancellations reported the previous day. Nationwide, flight cancellations exceeded 800. There were also 509 reported delays at the airport.

The ground stop comes in the wake of staffing issues among air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers that have persisted since the federal shutdown began. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that air traffic reductions could reach 20 percent if the shutdown continues into future peak travel periods, including Thanksgiving.