LaGuardia Airport delays, cancellations persist after deadly runway crash. What passengers should know.
LaGuardia Airport is still rebounding from mounting cancellations following a runway crash that killed two pilots and injured dozens on Sunday night.
There were 310 cancellations and 330 delays as of Tuesday afternoon. That's on top of the 640 cancellations from Monday, according to FlightAware. LaGuardia was completely closed until 2 p.m. Monday, before resuming flights at a reduced capacity.
The airport will continue operating at reduced capacity until at least Friday morning, when the runway where the accident happened is expected to reopen.
Stranded passengers have been camped out at the airport, while others were diverted to John F. Kennedy International Airport. Travelers are encouraged to check their flight status before heading to the airport.
What to do if your flight is canceled
If your flight is canceled, try to rebook online through the airline's app before heading to the airport; the lines at LaGuardia's customer service desks have been long.
Some travelers said their airlines rebooked flights to JFK due to LaGuardia being shut down Monday. The delays and cancellations for JFK on Tuesday were significantly lower than at LaGuardia.
Newark Liberty International Airport is another option for travelers, about a 45-minute drive from LaGuardia, depending on traffic.
If an airline cancels a flight or it is significantly delayed, passengers are entitled to a refund, even if they booked a non-refundable ticket, according to a Department of Transportation mandate.
TSA wait times at LGA
Another consideration is the TSA worker shortage, as a result of the partial government shutdown, which is contributing to delays. Many agents have gone more than a month without pay, prompting hundreds to call out of work or quit, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Security checkpoint lines have been extremely long at LaGuardia as well as at JFK. The wait times are currently not being reported on either of the airport's websites due to the partial shutdown.
"Due to the federal funding lapse, security wait times may be significantly longer than normal. Wait times are subject to rapid change based on passenger volumes and TSA staffing," LaGuardia's website states.
Immigration agents began patrolling JFK and Newark Liberty in New Jersey on Monday to help with crowd control. Border Czar Tom Homan told CNN that the agents will provide security so TSA workers can focus on getting passengers screened.
Travelers are advised to arrive early to allow for ample time to check in, go through security and make it to their gate.
