Boston Logan delays are back on Thursday. The FAA expects to put a ground stop or delay program on flights headed to Boston from about 11 a.m. Eastern, meaning planes bound for Logan could be held at their departure airports before they're allowed to take off. If that sounds familiar, it should. Logan has been working with less runway than usual since late summer, and on busy or bad-weather days, that's been enough to back up flights across the country.
Latest Updates
Thursday, Oct. 29, 12:00 p.m. ET: No ground stop or delay program has been issued at Boston yet today, though the FAA's planning list still shows one as expected, and flights are running mostly on time. Some airlines have also added extra time to their Boston schedules during the runway work, so even when delays are in effect, flights often still arrive close to on time. We'll update this page if a program is issued.
Thursday, Oct. 29, 9:00 a.m. ET: The FAA's morning operations plan lists a ground stop or delay program for Boston as expected after 11 a.m. Eastern. The same plan shows two of Logan's runways working at limited capacity. Nothing was in effect yet as of 9 a.m. We'll update this page when the FAA puts a program in place.
Why Boston Keeps Getting Delays
Logan's Runway 9-27, one of its main runways, has been closed with very limited availability since Aug. 31 for a 75-day safety project, according to Massport, the agency that runs the airport. Crews are installing a bed of crushable material at the end of the runway that can stop a plane that overshoots it, part of which is being built out over the water. Massport has said it expects the work to be done before Thanksgiving.
With one fewer runway, Logan can handle fewer arrivals an hour. On a calm, quiet day, that doesn't always matter. But add wind, low clouds or a storm, and the FAA has to space flights out further, which is when delays pile up. The worst came at the end of September. On Sept. 28, as a nor'easter hit, flights into Boston were held more than five hours on average, and the next day, more than 230 flights were delayed and 43 canceled, with the FAA blaming the runway work, the Boston Globe reported.
If You're Flying to or From Boston Today
Check your flight in the airline's app before you leave, and keep checking. Under a delay program, your plane can sit at your departure airport for an hour or more, even if the weather where you are is perfect. If you're picking someone up at Logan, don't head to the airport based on the original arrival time.
If you're connecting through Boston, or catching a flight there later in the day, give yourself extra room. Delays from a morning program tend to roll into the afternoon and evening as planes and crews fall behind. And for trips over the next few weeks, the earliest flight of the day is your best bet until the runway work wraps up.
