California Airport Shutdowns: What's The Status?

California is home to several airports, and while they are not often shut down, there have been instances of temporary closures and disruptions. For example, the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport in Southern California was shut down due to severe flooding, causing flight cancellations and disruptions. In another instance, pro-Palestinian protesters blocked a security line at San Francisco International Airport, causing operational changes but not a complete shutdown. Additionally, the Torrance City Council in California banned touch-and-go landings at the Zamperini Field Airport to address community concerns about increased noise and pollution. These examples demonstrate that while complete shutdowns are rare, temporary disruptions and closures can occur due to various factors, including weather events, protests, and operational decisions.

Santa Barbara Airport closes due to flooding

On February 19, 2024, Santa Barbara Airport was forced to close due to flooding on the airfield. The closure began shortly before 5 a.m. as more rain fell on the already soaked soil of the Central Coast. The airport's runways were flooded, and there was a significant amount of standing water on the airfield.

All commercial flights were canceled, and private and general aviation operations were paused. The terminal was also closed until further notice. The airport advised passengers to contact their airlines directly for information about specific flights.

This was the second time in a few weeks that Santa Barbara Airport had to close due to flooding. The first closure occurred during major storms two weeks prior.

The airport remained closed until early Tuesday morning, resulting in more than 30 flight cancellations. Officials announced a phased reopening on Tuesday at 5:30 a.m., with the terminal and parking lots open to the public.

The National Weather Service had warned of "multiple rounds of moderate to heavy showers" that may result in flooding in low-lying and flood-prone areas. Two to five inches of rain were expected between Monday and Wednesday, with up to 10 inches in the mountains.

Pro-Palestinian protesters shut down security at San Francisco International Airport

On April 2, 2020, pro-Palestinian protesters shut down a security line at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), calling for a permanent ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. More than two dozen protesters linked arms and blocked the entrance to the airport's G gates, holding a Palestinian flag with the words "Permanent Ceasefire" written on it. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that there were "as many as 200" protesters, with some also blocking the A gates and protesting outside the airport.

The airport continued operations, with passengers being rerouted around the protest. The airport posted on social media:

> There is a protest in the International Terminal. The terminal remains open. Passengers are being re-routed around the activity. To avoid congestion at the International Terminal curb, we recommend dropping off passengers at the Kiss and Fly lot at the Rental Car Center and taking AirTrain.

One protester explained their presence, saying:

> We do not want to be here. We are forced to be here because we have lost count of the petitions we’ve sent, the emails we’ve sent, of the meetings we’ve had with our congresspeople, of the days we’ve marched through the streets begging our government to hear the millions of voices for [a] ceasefire.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrations have also taken place at other airports and key bridges in major US cities, including Chicago, New York, and Seattle. Protesters have called for an immediate ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas and an end to all US military assistance to Israel. Israel's war in Gaza has sparked continuous mass demonstrations in major US cities and has led to repeated interruptions at US President Joe Biden's campaign events.

Pilot on a California-bound flight tried to shut down engines mid-air

California-bound flights have been disrupted by airport closures and an incident involving an off-duty pilot. In one instance, the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) experienced shutdowns due to severe flooding, leading to flight cancellations. On another occasion, an off-duty pilot, Joseph David Emerson, was accused of attempting to shut down the engines of a San Francisco-bound flight mid-air. The incident, which took place on a Horizon Air passenger jet, resulted in the diversion of the flight to Portland, Oregon, where Emerson was taken into custody.

The incident involving Emerson occurred on October 23, 2023. He was an off-duty pilot occupying the cockpit jump seat on a Horizon Air flight from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco. During the flight, Emerson, who was licensed by the FAA and lived in Pleasant Hill, California, allegedly tried to shut down the engines. However, the captain and co-pilot reacted swiftly, subduing him and maintaining control of the aircraft. In the audio captured by LiveATC.net, one of the pilots informed air traffic control about the situation, stating that the man who tried to shut down the engines had been removed from the cockpit and was subdued.

As a result of his actions, Emerson faced multiple charges, including 83 counts of attempted murder, 83 counts of reckless endangerment, and one count of endangering an aircraft. He was held without bail at the Multnomah County Detention Center in Portland, Oregon, pending further investigation by authorities, including the FBI. The incident caused concern among neighbors and colleagues, who described Emerson as a "really nice guy" and a caring father of two.

The Horizon Air incident caused a brief disruption to California-bound flights, but the quick response of the crew and law enforcement ensured the safety of the passengers and the public. This event also highlighted the importance of cockpit security and the need for continuous evaluation of safety procedures.

Torrance City Council bans touch-and-go landings at Zamperini Field Airport

The Torrance City Council in California has banned touch-and-go landings at the Zamperini Field Airport (TOA) in response to community concerns about increased noise and pollution from flight schools operating at the airport. The decision was made through a unanimous 5-0 vote on October 17, 2023, with the council aiming to address the negative impact of airport operations on the neighbouring communities.

The Coalition for Torrance Airport Reform (COTAR), a group of concerned citizens, has been advocating for a reduction in noise, pollution, and safety issues caused by the airport's operations. COTAR's objectives include ending flight training over residential areas, reducing airport operations to pre-2022 averages, improving noise violation enforcement, eliminating lead fuel use, and enhancing management practices. The group has gathered around 1,000 signatures from locals on a petition demanding that the council take action on these issues.

In response to the community's concerns, the Torrance City Council initially modified the hours for touch-and-go landings to weekdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and prohibited them on city-observed holidays. However, by September 2023, the council was reconsidering a complete ban on these types of landings. This decision was met with legal challenges from aviation groups, who questioned the council's authority over US airspace, which is under the jurisdiction of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Despite the legal questions, the Torrance City Council proceeded with the ban on touch-and-go landings on the North and South runways. The implementation of the ban is expected to take at least 8 to 12 months, and the council is also planning to introduce landing fees in January 2024. Additionally, a noise study has been initiated, and staff are exploring the possibility of phasing out leaded gas within 12 months.

Zamperini Field Airport, also known as Torrance Municipal Airport, serves as a general aviation airport with approximately 543 based aircraft. While it primarily caters to private aircraft, it also houses several Fixed Base Operators (FBOs) for flight instruction, aircraft repair, and charter flights. The airport is valued for its contribution to business promotion and recreation in the South Bay area.

Southern California airports see an increase in fare hikes

While there are reports of airport shutdowns in California due to flooding, I found no evidence of airports being shut down for other reasons.

Two Southern California airports have seen the nation's largest airfare hikes. Long Beach Airport (LGB) tops the nation with a 16% jump in prices, with an average fare of $373. This is despite the airport struggling with the exit of the low-cost airline JetBlue, with passenger counts 6% below pre-pandemic levels.

Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) follows closely behind with a 10.5% increase, bringing the average fare to $347. Passenger counts at BUR were 1% above 2019 levels.

These fare hikes reflect a broader trend of travellers avoiding California's biggest airports, such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, in favour of smaller airports with less congestion. Nationally, fares rose by 1.2% to an average of $462.

The "Survey Says" report, authored by Jonathan Lansner, analysed data from Upgradedpoints.com, which compared the cost of flying in the first three quarters of 2024 with the previous year. The report also noted that the airline industry is recovering from the pandemic, with passenger numbers surpassing pre-pandemic levels in 2023. However, the rise in airfare is not uniform across the country, with small hub airports and those in popular vacation destinations experiencing more significant increases.

In addition to Long Beach and Hollywood Burbank, several other California airports have seen notable fare hikes:

• Sacramento: Up 6.1% to $451
• Palm Springs: Up 5.5% to $550
• Oakland: Up 4.8% to $351
• Santa Barbara: Up 4.1% to $535
• San Jose: Up 4% to $389

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