The wildfires devastating Los Angeles and the strong winds intensifying them are disrupting air travel in and around the city.
Los Angeles International Airport, or LAX, has remained open throughout the fires and continues to be operational. The airport is advising passengers to check their flight status with their airline.
About 500 flights were delayed and 13 canceled over the weekend as fires continued to rage in the region fueled by the strong Santa Ana winds, according to FlightAware data. Delays and cancellations can arise from things unrelated to the airport or surrounding area, like weather elsewhere or necessary maintenance on an airplane causing cascading delays.
Wednesday, January 8 was the worst day at the city's main airport, according to FlightAware, with one in five departures delayed. Monday morning saw no cancellations as of 9 a.m. local time, with 64 delays, data showed.
LAX typically sees about 700 flights a day. It's more than 10 miles away from the largest blaze, the Palisades Fire.
Other airports in the area have remained open but faced some disruption.
A spokesperson for Hollywood Burbank Airport told Business Insider that on Wednesday, 41 of its scheduled 70 departures were canceled due to winds. It recorded gusts above 80 miles an hour. Officials expect winds to be moderate over the weekend but said they could pick up again early next week.
Several carriers have issued waivers for change fees, including American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and JetBlue. The waivers apply to travel to or from LAX, Hollywood Burbank Airport, Ontario International Airport, and Santa Ana's John Wayne Airport.
Santa Monica Airport is the closest to the wildfires, about three miles south of an evacuation zone for the Palisades Fire. It is a general aviation airport, which means commercial flights don't typically operate there.
Aviation is also playing a key role in fighting the wildfires. The Los Angeles Fire Department said 12 helicopters and six fixed-wing aircraft were in operation.
The FAA issued several temporary flight restrictions near the fires in Santa Monica and Altadena in order to keep the area clear for firefighting aviation operations.
At least 24 people have died, and over 150,000 have been ordered to evacuate due to the wildfires. Tens of thousands more people have been warned to be ready in case winds pick up again and the fires spread.
