Flight Cancellations Mount at U.S. Airports After Ground Stop

Airlines are repositioning crews and planes as cancellations and delays continue at airports across the country following a four-hour nationwide ground stop.

Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Air Travel

Flight Cancellations Mount at U.S. Airports After Ground Stop

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Flight cancellations and delays mounted Saturday at U.S. airports one day after the FAA lifted a four-hour nationwide ground stop at 8:15 p.m. EST Friday. Many airlines cancelled remaining flights Friday night to reposition crews and planes, and luggage piled up at airports during the stop.

Why it matters

The disruption spreads across major hubs and carriers, affecting travelers whose flights did not take off as airlines work to bring crews and planes to the right places. Charter flights were also caught up, including Florida Atlantic football's trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Southwest Airlines recorded 884 cancellations Saturday, or 26% of scheduled flights, while American Airlines recorded 700, or 21%. Nationwide, 4,429 cancellations and 4,219 delays had been tallied by 1 p.m. Saturday, and it is not yet clear when schedules will fully recover.

The players

Federal Aviation Administration

The FAA is the U.S. federal agency that regulates civil aviation and ordered the nationwide ground stop before lifting it Friday evening.

Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines is a major U.S. low-cost carrier that recorded the largest share of Saturday cancellations among the airlines reported.

American Airlines

American Airlines is one of the largest airlines in the United States and had 700 Saturday cancellations, about 21% of its scheduled flights.

The details

At President Donald Trump International Airport there were 58 cancellations and 32 delays Saturday, and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International recorded 165 cancellations and 32 delays. Charter flights were affected by the ground stop, including Florida Atlantic football's trip to Tulsa, where the game was moved from 3:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. EST.

Friday, November 13, 2026: FAA imposes and then lifts a four-hour nationwide ground stop at 8:15 p.m. EST.
Saturday, November 14, 2026, 1 p.m.: Nationwide cancellations and delays tallied while airspace is fully operational.
Saturday, November 14, 2026, 7:15 p.m. EST: Rescheduled Florida Atlantic football game time in Tulsa, moved from 3:30 p.m.

Travel Outlook

Ground stops of this kind typically leave a lag in schedules as airlines reposition crews and aircraft, so the disruption continues after the FAA lifts restrictions. Nationwide cancellation counts from FlightAware are the main measure of how far that recovery has progressed.

Travelers with connecting or charter flights should check airline apps for rebooked departures, since cancellations were concentrated at Southwest and American. Keeping luggage and boarding documents accessible helps when schedules shift on short notice.

The takeaway

Disruptions from a nationwide ground stop can outlast the stop itself, so checking flight status before heading to the airport is a practical step. Expect schedules to recover gradually as crews and aircraft are repositioned.