The Federal Aviation Administration lifted ground stops at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Dallas Love Field on Thursday afternoon, July 16, 2026. The ground stop at DFW ended by 4:23 p.m., while at Love Field it was lifted by 5:15 p.m.
FAA Cites Thunderstorms for Ground Stops
The FAA imposed the ground stops due to thunderstorms affecting the North Texas region. These stops served as traffic control measures to manage arrivals and departures at both airports amid challenging weather conditions.
Flight Delays and Airline Hubs Impacted
During the ground stops, flights bound for the Dallas area were prevented from taking off. Before the stops were lifted, average departure delays reached
approximately 90 minutes at DFW and 75 minutes at Love Field. American Airlines, based at DFW, and Southwest Airlines, operating 18 of 20 gates at Love Field, were among those affected.
These delays compounded the disruption from the previous day, marking two consecutive days of weather-related interruptions at the Dallas airports.
Given the substantial commercial and private traffic handled daily, ground stops can significantly affect operations in the region. DFW serves as American Airlines’ central hub, while Dallas Love Field is a primary base for Southwest Airlines.
Following the removal of the ground stops, flight operations at both airports returned
to normal schedules.
