Air Traffic Controller Furloughs Creating Traffic Nightmares For Passengers

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Work furloughs involving air traffic controllers caused headaches around the nation for passengers Sunday.

Flights were delayed in many large hubs -- up to three hours for some passengers.

LAX was also affected. The FAA's website reported a "traffic management program" at LAX is causing "some arriving flights to be delayed an average of 3 hours and 7 minutes. To see if you may be affected, select your departure airport and check 'Delays by Destination.'"

Reporting for CBS2, Adrianna Weingold said United was reporting delays of one hour, United Express reporting 1 hour and nine minutes and Southwest arrivals delayed up to two hours.

No one wanted to say the delays were related to the furloughs, but did say the delays were not "weather related."

The FAA released a statement Sunday regarding the delays. "Relatively good weather throughout the country and light traffic helped minimize air traffic delays. 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 furloughs are part of the federal government's sequester. The FAA was told to slash $600 million from their budget.

At LAX, alone, three fewer air traffic controllers are reportedly scheduled to work Sunday.

Officials say it is a good idea to check with your individual airline about arrivals and departures.

For more information about arrivals at LAX, click here.

For more information about departures at LAX, click here.

For arrivals and departures across the country, click here.