Long lines, delays at New Orleans airport amid apparent TSA sickout and government shutdown
Source: NOLA
By KASEY BUBNASH and MARCO CARTOLANO | Staff writers Mar 8, 2026 Updated 25 mins ago
The New Orleans airport was plagued Sunday morning by security lines that stretched through multiple floors of the building and into the parking garage amid an apparent Transportation Security Administration sickout during a partial government shutdown that has left them to work without pay, The Times-Picayune confirmed.
Erin Burns, a spokesperson for the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, said a shortage of workers during the shutdown was causing "longer-than-average lines." She did not, however, say whether TSA workers were on strike.
"Passengers with travel scheduled today are advised to arrive at least 3 hours before their scheduled departure to allow plenty of time to undergo security screening," Burns said in a prepared statement.
Burns said airport staff were working to keep the lines organized and under control, and she said they would continue to coordinate with federal TSA partners through the shutdown. For the latest updates on flight status, Burns encouraged travelers to check directly with their airline.
Read more: https://www.nola.com/news/politics/tsa-lines-new-orleans-airport/article_2b82f544-0c26-47ea-8545-14aeb1bb83a7.html
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