More than 100 flights arriving at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport were delayed on Friday, 11 September 2026, as the Federal Aviation Administration implemented a ground delay program starting just before 11 a.m. The initial delay was scheduled through 7 p.m. and applied to all flights to Austin departing from within the contiguous United States. The FAA extended the program until 9 p.m. later in the day due to storms moving across Central Texas along the Interstate 35 corridor.
Delays were averaging 32 minutes near noon, with some flights experiencing delays of more than two and a half hours. By mid-afternoon, the
average delay had increased to about one hour, and some flights were expected to be delayed by over three hours. The arrivals board at Austin-Bergstrom showed approximately 115 flights delayed through 7 p.m. and about 95 delayed inbound flights through midnight. Earlier in the day, the FAA issued short ground stops to temporarily halt all arrivals due to low cloud cover over the airport.
Taxiway Construction and Expansion
Flight delays are partly attributed to ongoing construction work at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Crews are building two miles of new taxiways in the middle of the airfield to connect the east and west sides. This construction
replaces existing taxiways that were removed to make way for a planned second concourse intended to increase the airport’s capacity.
Official Statements and Traveler Information
Airport spokesman Jim Reynolds said most delays are under 30 minutes, but some flights are delayed by more than an hour. He advised travelers to monitor their flight status and airline updates for the latest information about flight times and schedule changes.
“The majority of these delays are less than 30 minutes but there are a handful of delays over an hour,” Reynolds said. “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.”
Weather Impact and Extended Delays
The FAA extended the ground delay program to 9 p.m. in response to storms forming across Central Texas and moving along Interstate 35 toward Austin. Earlier ground stops briefly halted all flights arriving at Austin due to low ceilings from cloud cover. The combined effects of weather and construction have constrained airport capacity, slowing flight movements and prolonging delays for inbound flights on 11 September 2026.
