FAA Daily Air Traffic Report, August 24, 2025
A quieter start gives way to a busier afternoon across Florida and the Northeast, while San Diego faces departure scheduling holds. The FAA's midday plan highlights possible ground stops or delay programs at Tampa, Orlando, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, Denver, Las Vegas, and Phoenix, with low ceilings improving at San Francisco by late morning Pacific time. A VIP temporary flight restriction near Washington Dulles may pinch some procedures. No national Airspace Flow Programs are active.
Key Points
- Why it matters: Afternoon thunderstorms and compacted demand could disrupt hub-to-hub connections and last-flight arrivals.
- Travel impact: San Diego International Airport (SAN) departures may see 30 to 45 minute release delays through early afternoon Pacific.
- What's next: New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington airports face possible programs after 2 p.m. Eastern as storms build.
- SFO low ceilings should lift by 9 a.m. Pacific, reducing the need for initiatives there.
- No national AFPs are active, a positive sign for cross-country routings.
Snapshot
The current operations plan calls for a manageable morning with improvement at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), then a convective uptick. The FAA lists thunderstorms as constraints for New York TRACON, Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), Miami International Airport (MIA), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Denver International Airport (DEN), Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), and Harry Reid International Airport (LAS). Potential ground stops or delay programs begin around late morning for Tampa International Airport (TPA) and Orlando International Airport (MCO), with broader East Coast risk after mid-afternoon. No AFPs are active.
Background
ATCSCC publishes a rolling national plan that outlines expected terminal programs, en route constraints, and special events. Today's plan notes thunderstorms from New England to Florida and across portions of the Rockies and Southwest. It also cites a temporary suspension of the National Route Program in Washington Center through August 30, which can affect optimized routings in the Mid-Atlantic. Runway or taxiway work continues at several fields, including Taxiway Z rehabilitation at San Francisco and ongoing construction phases at San Diego. Travelers should monitor airline messages for rebooking windows and gate changes as programs update through the day.
Latest Developments
SAN departure scheduling holds through early afternoon
San Diego International Airport (SAN) is under time-based metering and call-for-release from first-tier departure facilities, producing 30 to 45 minute release delays. The advisory window runs roughly 720 a.m. to 330 p.m. Pacific due to compacted demand. Expect ripple effects for short-haul departures into the San Diego basin and for turn times on itineraries that include SAN. If you are departing from Southern California or nearby Southwest and Mountain airports, leave extra buffer at check-in and watch for gate holds.
FAA daily air traffic report highlights SFO ceiling improvement, Florida and Northeast risk
Low ceilings at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) are forecast to lift by 9 a.m. Pacific, easing the need for initiatives there. The plan flags possible ground stops or delay programs for Tampa International Airport (TPA) and Orlando International Airport (MCO) from around 9 a.m. Eastern, then Miami International Airport (MIA) and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) near midday. After 2 p.m. Eastern, Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), LaGuardia Airport (LGA), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) could see programs. Atlanta, Charlotte, Washington National, Baltimore, Dulles, Denver, Las Vegas, and Phoenix also carry late-day risk.
VIP TFR near IAD, plus evening spaceflight window
A VIP temporary flight restriction is posted for the Sterling, Virginia area during the midday to early evening period. Some approaches or departures at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) may be unavailable while the TFR is active, which can cause minor reroutes or holds. Separately, SpaceX Starship Flight-10 has a Boca Chica, Texas primary window from 630 p.m. to 834 p.m. Central, which can prompt Gulf route adjustments if activity proceeds.
Analysis
Today's pattern looks like a classic summer convective day. With no AFPs active, systemwide throughput should remain resilient, but localized programs will pop where cells collide with the afternoon push. The highest near-term program probability sits over Central and South Florida, where Tampa International Airport (TPA), Orlando International Airport (MCO), Miami International Airport (MIA), and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) carry repeated mention. New York and Philadelphia could transition to CDRs, SWAPs, or short GDPs as storm lines approach, especially for John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), LaGuardia Airport (LGA), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). In the West, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) should stabilize after the morning marine layer clears, while San Diego International Airport (SAN) works through compacted midday demand. Build extra time for tight connections, especially when your itinerary crosses the Florida peninsula or the Northeast corridor. For late-day changes, see our service piece on evening advisories. Also compare trends with yesterday's brief for context. We will continue to track changes to ground stops, delay programs, and routing advisories as the plan updates. See FAA Evening Advisory: Delays and Reroutes and FAA Daily Air Traffic Report for related coverage.
Final Thoughts
If your route touches Florida or the Northeast after early afternoon, assume a higher chance of schedule adjustments and pack flexibility into your plans. West Coast travelers should see improving flows at San Francisco, while San Diego works through metered departures. Keep alerts on for Washington area procedures during the VIP TFR window, and watch for evening launch-related route tweaks along the Gulf. Check in early, travel with carry-on where possible, and monitor your airline app for gate and flow updates tied to the FAA daily air traffic report.