The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground delay program for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on September 11, 2026, starting just before 11 a.m. The delay was initially set through 7 p.m. but was extended until 9 p.m. due to thunderstorms over Central Texas impacting the region.
Flight Delays and Duration
More than 100 Austin-bound flights from the contiguous United States experienced delays. Approximately 115 delayed flights were noted on the arrivals board through 7 p.m., with about 95 delayed inbound flights continuing through midnight. Average inbound delays increased from 32 minutes before noon to about one hour by 3 p.m. Several flights faced delays exceeding
2.5 hours, with some delays expected to surpass 3 hours.
Construction Impact on Operations
The ground delay was caused by ongoing construction of two miles of new taxiways in the middle of the airfield at Austin-Bergstrom. These new taxiways will connect the east and west sides of the airport and replace existing taxiways that are being removed to make room for a future second concourse. This construction reduced the available taxiways and contributed to congestion affecting inbound flights.
Traveler Guidance and Official Statements
Airport spokesman Jim Reynolds 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 airline information for the latest updates on flight times and schedule changes.
Weather Impact and Ground Stops
Low cloud cover caused brief ground stops earlier in the morning and afternoon, temporarily halting all flights into Austin. Thunderstorms moving through the Interstate 35 corridor worsened the delays and prompted the extension of the ground delay program until 9 p.m.
