A ground stop halting all departures from Palm Springs International Airport dragged on Saturday afternoon as the airport continued to be impacted by an air traffic control issue affecting Southern California airspace on a busy travel weekend following the New Year’s holiday.
Airport spokesperson Jake Ingrassia wrote in a statement that while no planes were currently allowed to depart from PSP, some aircraft had arrived. But he added that some inbound flights had been diverted and “delays and schedule disruptions are expected.”
The airline industry tracking website FlightAware showed 47 flights to or from PSP had been canceled on Saturday, while another 38 had been delayed as of around 3 p.m. The arrivals page on the airport website showed some flights still landing, though often after significant delays.
Ingrassia’s statement did not elaborate on the nature or cause of the issue or say whether there was an “expectation” for how long it would take to resolve. He did say that the issues were not specific to Palm Springs and were affecting other Southern California airports.
PSP continues to work closely with airline partners and the FAA, which is managing the situation,” Ingrassia wrote. “Travelers should contact their airline directly for the latest flight information. PSP will share additional updates as needed.”
The Desert Sun also reached out to the Federal Aviation Administration, which manages air traffic control nationwide, for more information on the situation, but did not receive an immediate response.
This is a developing situation. Check back later for more details.
Paul Albani-Burgio covers growth, development, and business in the Coachella Valley. Email him at paul.albani-burgio@desertsun.com.
