LAX flight delays expected as sequestration cuts kick in

Some flights headed into LAX were delayed more than three hours Sunday night because of air traffic controller furloughs required by sequestration cuts, a federal aviation official said Monday.

As part of $600 million the Federal Aviation Administration is expected to cut as part of the sequestration -- the deep budget cuts Congress agreed to when it failed to reach a broader budget agreement -- air traffic controllers are taking one unpaid day off each pay period.

Groups have sued to stop the furloughs but that has not stopped them from taking effect.

“FAA employee furloughs, including air traffic controller furloughs, began Sunday,” an agency official said. “The FAA will be working with the airlines and using a comprehensive set of air traffic management tools to minimize the delay impacts of lower staffing as we move into the busy summer travel season.”

The FAA’s website showed flights Sunday night into LAX delayed as much as three hours and seven minutes.

Southwest Airlines has reportedly canceled a number of flights from the Bay Area to Los Angeles.

A representative from LAX was not immediately available to comment on the situation Monday morning.

Current flight delay information is available at www.fly.faa.gov. Delays Monday morning appeared to be less than 15 minutes.

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