The Federal Aviation Administration implemented ground stops Thursday afternoon, July 16, 2026, at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field due to thunderstorms affecting the North Texas region. The ground stop at DFW was lifted by 4:23 p.m. and at Love Field by 5:15 p.m., temporarily halting inbound flight departures to these airports.
These ground stops were the second consecutive day of weather-related disruptions at both airports. During the stoppage, flights destined for DFW and Love Field were prevented from taking off. Departure delays averaged 90 minutes at DFW and 75 minutes at Dallas Love Field, according to
FAA traffic data.
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport serves as the central hub for American Airlines, which is based in Fort Worth, while Dallas Love Field is the primary base for Southwest Airlines, operating 18 of the airport’s 20 gates. Both hubs experienced significant operational impacts during the ground stops caused by thunderstorms.
Ground Stop Measures and Air Traffic Context
Ground stops are a regulatory tool used by the FAA to manage and control airport and airspace traffic during adverse conditions, such as severe weather. Their use at DFW and Love Field is particularly disruptive due to the high volume of daily commercial and private flights operating
through these Texas airports.
