More than 100 inbound flights to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport were delayed on Friday, September 11, 2026, as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented a ground delay program starting just before 11 a.m. local time. The program initially lasted until 7 p.m. before being extended to 9 p.m., affecting all Austin-bound flights departing from across the contiguous United States. Average delays before noon were about 32 minutes, with some flights delayed over two and a half hours. By mid-afternoon, delays increased to roughly one hour on average, with select flights experiencing more than three-hour waits. The airport’s arrivals board displayed roughly
115 delayed flights through 7 p.m. and about 95 delayed flights extending to midnight.
Taxiway Construction Spurs FAA Ground Delay
The FAA issued the ground delay program to accommodate construction work on two miles of new taxiways in the center of Austin-Bergstrom’s airfield. These new taxiways will link the east and west sides of the airport and will replace existing taxiways that are being removed to enable construction of a second concourse as part of the airport’s expansion.
Weather Compounds Delays at Austin Airport
In addition to construction-related delays, low clouds triggered brief ground stops early Friday morning and again in the afternoon, momentarily halting all flights to Austin-Bergstrom. Thunderstorms formed north
and west of Austin throughout the afternoon, extending into the Interstate 35 corridor, which contributed to the FAA extending the ground delay program until 9 p.m.
Airport Officials Advise Travelers to Monitor Flight Status
Jim Reynolds, an airport spokesman, stated that “the majority of these delays are less than 30 minutes but there are a handful of delays over an hour.” He urged travelers to monitor their flight status closely and follow airline communications for the latest updates on flight times and schedule changes. The delays affected inbound flights arriving from across the contiguous United States throughout the day on September 11, 2026.
