Impact of L.A. Wildfires: Airlines Offer Flight Flexibility and Attractions Temporarily Shut Down—Essential Updates

Major carriers issued travel alerts as individuals in Los Angeles hurried to evacuate amid an uncontrolled wildfire blazed through the southern California city on Wednesday.

The Palisades Fire ignited on Tuesday, leading to evacuation notices and expanding to cover over 2,900 acres of heavily populated regions within the city, including parts of Santa Monica. By Wednesday morning, firefighters had not yet managed to bring the flames under control, which was hindered by strong gusts of winds reaching 60 mph that were predicted to persist through Thursday.

“Severe fire activity, encompassing short and long-distance spotting, continues to pose challenges for firefighting operations related to the Palisades Fire,” the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) mentioned in an update report. “Firefighters and aerial resources will persist in their efforts to safeguard the community and infrastructure while striving to establish fire control.”

Several airlines issued travel waivers for the Los Angeles vicinity, including United Airlines, American Airlines, and JetBlue. Airports such as Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) are within the impacted area.

For its part, Hollywood Burbank Airport cautioned travelers that “Weather conditions are affecting various flight operations today” and advised them to verify the status of their flight prior to traveling to the airport.  

In addition to air travel, various attractions in the Los Angeles region have been compelled to shut down, including Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal CityWalk. The theme park stated in a message on X that it would “continue to evaluate the situation” and hoped to reopen on Thursday. 

“The safety of our staff and guests is our main priority,” Universal remarked.

The Getty Center and Villa also closed on Wednesday “as a precautionary measure and in order to keep roads unobstructed in the neighboring areas.” The museum announced it would remain shut until Jan. 13.

Besides the Palisades fire, three additional wildfires persisted in the Los Angeles vicinity: the Eaton Fire, which has consumed over 2,200 acres so far; the Hurst Fire; and the Woodley Fire.