FAA Daily Air Traffic Report: September 7, 2025
Low ceilings on the West Coast and thunderstorms from Florida into the Mid-Atlantic shape the FAA outlook for September 7, 2025. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is under call-for-release scheduling delays of 30 to 45 minutes from first-tier departure facilities. The Command Center plan lists possible afternoon Ground Delay Programs at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), and multiple Florida hubs, plus VIP activity affecting Washington and New York.
Key Points
- Why it matters: SFO release metering, potential GDPs, and oceanic closures can ripple into missed connections.
- Travel impact: Florida storms may prompt AFPs or reroutes, with BOS construction keeping evening metering likely.
- What's next: Afternoon watch for FCAJX and FCAMA airspace programs, plus VIP movements near New York.
- ZNY lists L451, L453, and L455 closed for thunderstorms, updated around 11:00 a.m. CDT.
- Lake Erie East and West flow-constrained areas remain active into late morning.
Snapshot
By late morning Central time, the FAA issued SFO scheduling delays, 30 to 45 minutes, for first-tier departures, citing low ceilings. The daily operations plan highlights thunderstorms across Jacksonville and Miami centers, with possible routing actions and an afternoon Airspace Flow Program watch on Florida FCAs. BOS remains capacity-limited by ongoing Runway 9, 27 work, placing it in the probable evening initiative window. New York Oceanic lists L451, L453, and L455 closed due to storms, steering trans-Atlantic alternates. A brief flyover window near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and VIP movement touching Joint Base Andrews and LaGuardia Airport (LGA) require localized structure. Lake Erie flow constraints stay active through 9:00 a.m. CDT.
Background
The Air Traffic Control System Command Center blends forecast weather, construction, staffing, space operations, and special-use airspace into a rolling national plan. When expected arrivals exceed acceptance rates, Ground Delay Programs meter flights using Estimated Departure Clearance Times. Brief surges trigger ground stops, while regional constraints can shift to Airspace Flow Programs covering multiple facilities. On September 7, planners flagged low ceilings at SEA and SFO, thunderstorms across Florida, and VIP activity near Washington and New York, while BOS remains compressed by runway work. For trend lines this week, compare our recent coverage in FAA Daily Air Traffic Report: September 5, 2025 and FAA Daily Air Traffic Report: September 4, 2025.
Latest Developments
SFO release metering, low ceilings, and West Coast watch
ATCSCC Advisory 033 sets SFO scheduling delays of 30 to 45 minutes for departures from first-tier facilities, effective about 1000 a.m. to 300 p.m. CDT. The Operations Plan keeps SEA and SFO in the afternoon watch for potential ground stops or delay programs if ceilings linger. Construction continues at SFO on Taxiway Z rehabilitation into mid November, a minor factor relative to today's weather. Travelers connecting via the Bay Area should bank earlier flight options where available, and monitor airline apps for call-for-release holds that may not trigger email alerts.
Florida thunderstorms, oceanic closures, and VIP routing tweaks
Thunderstorms across Jacksonville and Miami centers support possible AFPs on FCAJX and FCAMA in the afternoon, with capping, escape routes, and SWAP options listed for Florida hubs. New York Oceanic reports L451, L453, and L455 closed for storms, driving alternates on some trans-Atlantic flows. BOS sits in the probable evening initiative window as Runway 9, 27 remains closed for safety work. VIP movement between Andrews and LGA, plus a brief DCA flyover, requires route structure and spacing through peak periods. Lake Erie East and West FCAs remain in play into late morning, then shift to partial status as needed.
Analysis
This is a classic late-summer split, with marine ceilings trimming West Coast rates while convection builds over peninsular Florida. SFO's call-for-release delays indicate demand near the edge of workable rates, so small perturbations, including runway configuration shifts or minor en-route holds, can compound quickly. If clouds lift on schedule, West Coast delays should ease into the evening banks. In Florida, scattered but recurring cells near arrival fixes often push metering or brief stops at Miami International Airport (MIA), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Orlando International Airport (MCO), and Tampa International Airport (TPA). The AFP watch on FCAJX and FCAMA provides a system-level tool to meter flows without over-penalizing a single airport.
In the Northeast, oceanic track closures force longer routings and add spacing pressure at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), and LaGuardia Airport (LGA), especially during connection-heavy evening periods. BOS remains vulnerable because of the Runway 9, 27 closure, so even modest winds or upstream reroutes can trigger metering. For travelers, the best resilience tactics are earlier departures, longer buffers at BOS and Florida hubs, and close monitoring for dynamic reroutes that may not surface until pushback. Compare today's setup with patterns noted in our recent reports to anticipate the late-day rhythm.
Final Thoughts
Expect West Coast improvement if ceilings lift, with SFO's release holds tapering as rates normalize. Florida remains the wildcard through the afternoon, where AFPs or local programs could appear with little notice. VIP routing near Washington and New York adds a brief layer of complexity during peak traffic. If you connect through BOS, pad your schedule because construction limits flexibility during evening arrivals. As always, recheck your airline's app before leaving for the airport, and refresh official FAA sources for updates tied to the FAA Daily Air Traffic Report.