- - FAA ground stop halts flights in Palm Springs on second day of film festival

Paul Albani-Burgio, Palm Springs Desert SunJanuary 4, 2026 at 2:04 AM

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A Federal Aviation Administration ground stop halted all departures from Palm Springs International Airport in California for much of Saturday afternoon before being lifted in the evening.

The disruption, caused by an air traffic control issue affecting Southern California airspace, came during a busy post–New Year’s travel weekend and the second day of the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

As of 4 p.m. PT, Saturday, Jan. 3, flights are slowly resuming, but significant delays are expected as operations normalize. Travelers should continue to check their flight status directly with their airline.

The airline industry tracking website FlightAware showed as many as 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.

A chaotic scene in the baggage drop-off area at Palm Springs International Airport as a ground stop continued at the airport on Saturday, Jan. 3.

Airport spokesperson Jake Ingrassia's statement did not elaborate on the nature or cause of the issue. He did say that the problems 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.

The delays came on the same day as hundreds of flights originating and arriving to Puerto Rico were canceled after federal authorities temporarily restricted U.S. airline operations at several Caribbean airports, citing security concerns related to escalating military activity in Venezuela.

Several bags sit in Palm Springs International Airport on Saturday, Jan. 3 after a ground halt on all deaptures was issued.

Paul Albani-Burgio covers growth, development, and business in the Coachella Valley. Email him at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Flight delays pile up on second day of Palm Springs Film Festival

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