The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground delay program just before 11 a.m. on September 11, 2026, at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The delay applied to all flights inbound to Austin departing from the contiguous United States. Initially scheduled to last until 7 p.m., the ground delay was extended first until 9 p.m., with flight arrival boards showing delays persisting through midnight. More than 100 flights experienced delays during the day.
Taxiway Construction at Austin-Bergstrom Airport
The FAA implemented the delay to manage inbound traffic amid ongoing construction on two miles of new taxiways in the center of the airfield. This work supports the planned
second concourse expansion at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The new taxiways are designed to link the east and west sides of the airfield and will replace existing taxiways that are being removed to facilitate the concourse project.
Flight Delays and Weather Impact
Inbound flights faced an average delay of 32 minutes shortly before noon, with some flights delayed by more than two and a half hours. By mid-afternoon, the average delay increased to approximately one hour, while some exceeded three hours. About 115 flights were delayed through 7 p.m., and nearly 95 remained delayed into midnight according to Austin-Bergstrom’s arrivals data. Earlier in the day, the
FAA also issued short ground stops due to low cloud cover. Thunderstorms developing over Central Texas and along the Interstate 35 corridor worsened congestion and extended delays during the afternoon period.
Official Statements and Traveler Guidance
Jim Reynolds, spokesman for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, said, “The majority of these delays are less than 30 minutes but there are a handful of delays over an hour.” He advised travelers to monitor their flight status and keep updated through their airlines, which have the most current information on flight times and schedule changes.
