The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground delay program at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport just before 11 a.m. on September 11, 2026, affecting inbound flights originating from the contiguous United States. The delay was initially scheduled to last until 7 p.m. but was extended until 9 p.m. due to thunderstorms moving into Central Texas. By 7 p.m., more than 115 arriving flights had been delayed, with about 95 flights still delayed through midnight according to the airport’s arrivals board.
Construction Impact on Airport Operations
The delays coincided with ongoing construction of two miles of new taxiways across the airfield at Austin-Bergstrom. These taxiways will connect the
east and west sides of the airport and are being built to support a forthcoming second concourse. The existing taxiways being removed to make way for the concourse have necessitated adjustments to airport operations and contributed to congestion.
Weather Conditions Exacerbate Delays
In addition to the construction, weather conditions including thunderstorms and low clouds affected airport operations on September 11. Early morning and afternoon low cloud cover caused short ground stops that briefly halted all flights into the airport. Thunderstorms moving across the Interstate 35 corridor later in the day led the FAA to extend the ground delay program.
Flight Delay Durations and Impact
Inbound flight delays averaged 32
minutes just before noon, increasing to about one hour by mid-afternoon. Some flights experienced delays exceeding two and a half hours before noon and over three hours later in the day. The FAA ground delay program aimed to reduce airfield congestion attributable to both the construction and weather disruptions.
Austin-Bergstrom International 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. 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.” The delays significantly disrupted inbound flight schedules on September 11, impacting more than 100 flights during the day.
