FAA Air Traffic Report - August 10, 2025

Low clouds over San Francisco forced a ground delay program while Aspen entered a ground stop for volume, shaping Sunday's national plan from the FAA Command Center. Thunderstorms kept key Gulf over-water routes closed, with Florida hubs flagged for potential programs later in the day. A separate volume-driven flow constraint managed departures from Las Vegas and San Diego toward Atlanta and Charlotte during the midday window. This FAA air traffic report summarizes what the advisories signal for travelers and where delays were most likely.

Key Points

• Why it matters: SFO GDP, Aspen holds, and Gulf closures concentrated delays and reroutes.
• Travel impact: SFO GDP to 159 p.m. CT / 1159 a.m. PT with improvement after 200 p.m. CT / 1200 p.m. PT, plus Florida airport programs possible after 1100 a.m. CT / 900 a.m. PT.
• What's next: Update on Gulf route status due at 100 p.m. CT / 1100 a.m. PT, with additional SWAP routes probable through the evening.

Snapshot

By early afternoon, the FAA's operations plan highlighted a ground delay program at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) for low ceilings, with improvement anticipated after 200 p.m. CT / 1200 p.m. PT. Aspen, Colorado's Aspen Pitkin County Airport (ASE) was in a ground stop for volume, with a likely transition into a GDP. Gulf RNAV routes Q100, Q102, Y280, and Y290 remained closed because of thunderstorms, pending a 100 p.m. CT / 1100 a.m. PT update. Florida hubs, including Miami International Airport (MIA), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), Orlando International Airport (MCO), and Tampa International Airport (TPA), were on watch for programs later in the day. For a national status overview, see the FAA Daily Air Traffic Report: FAA Daily Air Traffic Report.

Background

Ground delay programs meter departures from origin airports so arrivals reach a constrained airport at a manageable rate. Ground stops briefly pause inbound flows when conditions or volume warrant. When convection blocks preferred paths, the Command Center issues reroute advisories and may close over-water shortcuts like the Gulf's Q and Y routes, pushing traffic inland. Flow Constrained Areas, or FCAs, manage demand across wider corridors when volume exceeds capacity, often paired with published playbook routes. For definitions of traffic flow management tools, the NBAA glossary is a useful primer: NBAA TFM Glossary.

Latest Developments in today's FAA air traffic report

SFO faces GDP for low ceilings, Aspen holds for volume

The afternoon advisory confirmed a ground delay program at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) due to low ceilings, active until 159 p.m. CT / 1159 a.m. PT, with improvement expected after 200 p.m. CT / 1200 p.m. PT. Aspen Pitkin County Airport (ASE) held an active ground stop for volume through 915 a.m. CT / 715 a.m. PT, with an exit into a GDP likely if demand persisted. Southern and Central Florida hubs were flagged for possible ground stops or GDPs after 1100 a.m. CT / 900 a.m. PT as thunderstorms built into the late-day push. Travelers should watch airline push alerts for Expect Departure Clearance Times, which reflect GDP metering from origin airports. ATCSCC Operations Plan.

Gulf route closures continue as Florida storms pulse

Thunderstorms kept Gulf RNAV routes Q100, Q102, Y280, and Y290 closed under the Miami center area, with an update expected at 100 p.m. CT / 1100 a.m. PT. To balance flows, the Command Center published several partial reroutes, including FLORIDA_TO_NE_2_PARTIAL, ORD_NO_BENKY_1_PARTIAL, and DFW_VKTRY_PARTIAL, plus capping and tunneling procedures in Jacksonville and Kansas City airspace. These measures redirect flights away from saturated sectors and help preserve arrival banks at major hubs. Current Reroutes.

FCA manages LAS and SAN flows to the Southeast

A volume-driven flow constraint, FCA007, managed departures from Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) and San Diego International Airport (SAN), as well as other West facilities, to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). The FCA window ran roughly 930 a.m. to 130 p.m. CT / 730 a.m. to 1130 a.m. PT with a moderate probability of extension. It included defined routing via Southwest fixes to balance demand through ZKC and ZFW airspace. Operators could expect structured routings and possible EDCTs tied to the constraint. Most Recent ATCSCC Advisory.

Analysis

Today's plan shows classic summertime layering of constraints. An SFO ceiling-driven GDP reduces the airport's arrival acceptance rate, so airlines hold some departures on the ground with EDCTs, smoothing inbound banks and cutting airborne holding. Meanwhile, closing the Gulf Q and Y routes removes an east-west pressure valve, forcing more flights onto inland corridors already managing storm-related sector loads. That increases the need for published reroutes, capping, and tunneling to keep traffic separated and sequenced.

The FCA covering West-to-Southeast flows is a tactical lever to keep ZKC and ZFW from over-saturating as afternoon traffic peaks. It prescribes predictable paths from LAS and SAN toward ATL and CLT, which helps balance controller workload across multiple centers. For travelers, the practical effects are departure holds at origins and longer routings that may add minutes to block time. If you receive a controlled departure time, accept rebooking options promptly and maintain buffers on tight connections. For airline-controllable delays or cancellations, the DOT's Airline Customer Service Dashboard summarizes what care or compensation your carrier commits to provide. DOT Airline Delay Dashboard.

Final Thoughts

Conditions remained manageable but busy. SFO's ceiling-driven GDP, Aspen's volume holds, and Gulf closures required a network of reroutes and a targeted FCA to keep traffic flowing. Florida storms may still prompt late-day programs, so keep alerts enabled and verify connection times before you head to the airport. If you are offered an earlier reaccommodation with a better connection cushion, take it. We will continue to monitor Command Center updates as evening banks build and Gulf thunderstorms evolve. Check back for adjustments to this FAA air traffic report.