Flight Delays and Airport Impacts: October 23, 2025
Key points
- BOS running a ground delay program this afternoon
- SFO on a ground delay program for morning low ceilings
- NYC airports may see wind-driven holds later
- Storms could affect DFW, DAL, and DEN flows
- Runway work continues at BOS, TPA, MCO, IAH, and DEN
Impact
- What Changed
- FAA issued a BOS ground delay program and activated SFO delays for low ceilings, with NYC actions possible as winds increase.
- Why It Matters
- Arrivals into Boston and San Francisco face EDCTs and longer taxi, while New York, Dallas, and Denver may see spacing or reroutes.
- Dates
- Impacts Thursday, October 23, 2025. FAA morning plan updated after 6:15 a.m./06:15 CT; afternoon revisions expected.
- What To Do
- Add 60-90 minutes for connections at BOS or SFO, watch airline/app alerts, and consider earlier flights where possible.
Low ceilings in San Francisco and strong westerly winds in the Northeast are steering Thursday's traffic plan. As of 615 a.m./0615 CT, the FAA's command center highlighted a ground delay program at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and morning terminal initiatives for San Francisco International Airport (SFO). New York-area actions are possible later as winds build, while storms over the southern Great Plains could slow flows into Dallas and Denver. Travelers with tight connections should leave extra buffer today.
FAA operations plan for October 23
The morning operations plan calls out wind risks for the New York terminal area and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), plus low ceilings at SFO. FAA lists BOS on an active ground delay program beginning 115 p.m./1315 EDT, and SFO on a ground delay program through about 129 p.m./1329 PDT. The plan flags possible late-day actions for DCA and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).
Convective weather is expected to flare this afternoon and tonight across parts of the southern Great Plains, which can ripple into Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Dallas Love Field (DAL), and Denver International Airport (DEN) through spacing programs or reroutes. The Storm Prediction Center maintains a Day-1 slight-risk area in the region.
Runway and taxiway projects continue to constrain capacity at several airports, including Boston's Runway 09/27, Tampa International Airport (TPA), Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), Orlando International Airport (MCO), George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), and Denver (DEN). O'Hare International Airport (ORD) lists east-side taxiway work through today. These long-running projects can add a few minutes of taxi time and reduce arrival rates during peaks.
A Cape Canaveral launch window this evening may drive minor offshore route adjustments on the East Coast; plan for small variations in flight time if your route skirts those airspace blocks.
Latest developments
By late morning, FAA updated its plan showing BOS running a collaborative ground delay program and SFO on a ground delay program for low ceilings, with DCA, EWR, and JFK still possible later if winds verify. Expect mid-afternoon revisions after the daily planning call.
Analysis
Expect the tightest schedules where multiple constraints stack, such as BOS with runway construction plus wind, and SFO with morning stratus. If you are booked through Boston or San Francisco today, check your airline app for an EDCT time before leaving for the airport, and consider moving to an earlier departure if a free same-day change is offered. For New York transfers, rolling protests in Lower Manhattan can snarl road access to JFK and EWR, so favor rail or Midtown tunnel routes if you must cross Manhattan. Lower Manhattan protests: Airport routes to avoid gridlock.
Background. A ground delay program (GDP) meters arrivals by assigning expect-departure clearance times to inbound flights, preventing airborne holding and diversions when weather or construction reduces capacity. While overall ATC staffing remains a national risk during the ongoing shutdown, today's plan lists no staffing triggers. For broader context on staffing-related slowdowns, see our recent explainer. FAA: Controller absences fueling delays during shutdown.
Final thoughts
The combination of a BOS ground delay program, SFO morning ceilings, and wind in the Northeast makes Thursday a "buffer day." If your itinerary touches Boston, San Francisco, or the New York terminals, pad connections and enable airline alerts. We will continue to track FAA updates and refresh this outlook should additional actions post. Flight delays and airport impacts are likely to ease overnight as winds and ceilings improve.