Airport chaos hit Los Angeles International Airport as hundreds of protesters blocked roads during one of the busiest Thanksgiving travel periods, forcing travelers to abandon vehicles and walk to the terminals. The chaos unfolded when demonstrators shut down Century Boulevard, bringing traffic around the airport’s main pickup and drop-off areas to a standstill.
Police in riot gear cleared the intersection shortly after 6:15 p.m., slowly restoring traffic flow. The disruption stemmed from an escalating labor dispute with Flying Food Group, one of LAX’s largest airline catering contractors. Unite Here Local 11 and Flying Food Group employees demanded a new contract with higher wages while raising labor and safety concerns. “Honestly, people don’t care about the people who make food and put it on their plates,” said Susan Minato, co-president of Unite Here Local 11. She added, “We wanted to make a statement.”
Minato defended the timing of the demonstrations despite the holiday rush. “It is a busy time of the year, no question,” she said. “But that’s also how you get some attention.” The protests mirrored earlier union efforts, including a successful push for a city ordinance raising minimum wages for hotel and airport workers to $30 by 2028.
Additional disruptions continued into Wednesday when workers from USWW held another protest inside Terminal 7. While authorities did not expect further blockages, police prepared for possible delays as Thanksgiving travel surged. Many travelers expressed frustration as normal holiday congestion intensified under the added strain of organized demonstrations.
