The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented a ground delay program just before 11 a.m. on September 11, 2026, affecting all flights arriving at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport from the contiguous United States. The delay initially lasted until 7 p.m. but was extended to 9 p.m. due to thunderstorms developing to the north and west of Austin.
By 7 p.m., approximately 115 flights inbound to Austin were delayed, with about 95 remaining delayed through midnight, according to the airport arrivals board. Average delay times grew from 32 minutes just before noon to about one hour by mid-afternoon, with some flights experiencing delays
exceeding 2.5 hours and some expected to exceed 3 hours.
>FAA Delays Linked to Airport Construction and Weather
The FAA issued the ground delay program to manage congestion caused by ongoing construction on two miles of new taxiways within the Austin airport airfield. The new taxiways will connect the east and west sides of the airfield and support a forthcoming second concourse, replacing existing taxiways removed for the project. Earlier the same day, low clouds caused short ground stops that briefly halted all flights into Austin.
>Airport Spokesman Details Delay Impact and Advises Travelers
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 airline communications closely, stating, “Travelers should keep an eye on their flight status and info from their airlines as they will have the latest information regarding flight times and changes to their schedules.”
>Ongoing Airport Upgrades Drive Operational Restrictions
The taxiway and concourse construction represents a major infrastructure upgrade at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. These improvements aim to support airport growth along the Interstate 35 corridor and Central Texas but have necessitated FAA-imposed operational restrictions to reduce congestion during construction.
