The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented a ground delay program for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport starting just before 11 a.m. on September 11, 2026. The program initially applied to all flights bound for Austin departing from the contiguous United States and was set to run until 7 p.m. Due to developing storms in Central Texas spreading into the Interstate 35 corridor, the FAA extended the ground delay program until 9 p.m.
Flight Delay Scale and Duration
By just before noon, inbound flights to Austin were averaging delays of 32 minutes, with some flights delayed more than two and a half hours. The airport’s arrivals board showed
approximately 115 delayed flights through 7 p.m. These delays increased through the afternoon, with average inbound delays reaching about one hour by 3 p.m. Some flights were expected to be delayed beyond three hours. As of midnight, about 95 inbound flights remained delayed.
Cause of Delays
The delays stemmed from ongoing construction at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport involving two miles of new taxiways in the middle of the airfield. These taxiways are being built to support a future second concourse that will link the east and west sides of the airport, requiring removal of existing taxiways. The FAA issued the ground delay program to
reduce congestion caused by this construction work. Additionally, low cloud cover led to brief ground stops earlier in the morning and afternoon, temporarily halting all flights into Austin.
Impact on Travelers and Official Statement
Passengers arriving at Austin on September 11 experienced delays ranging mostly under 30 minutes, though some delays exceeded an hour. Airport spokesman Jim Reynolds stated, “The majority of these delays are less than 30 minutes but there are a handful of delays over an hour.” He further advised travelers to monitor their flight status and airline communications for the latest information about schedules and changes.
