The Federal Aviation Administration is spacing out arrivals at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport after a wind-related ground stop Saturday, Nov. 7. The FAA’s signed advisory schedules the ground delay program from 4 p.m. through 10:59 p.m. Pacific. The FAA’s live board listed an average delay of 34 minutes when checked shortly after 4 p.m.
The program covers Seattle-bound flights leaving the contiguous United States and five Canadian airports: Edmonton, Vancouver, Calgary, Victoria and Kelowna. The average applies to flights covered by the program. The advisory listed a maximum assigned delay of 173 minutes, just under three hours. Your airline’s flight status will give you a better estimate of when your flight will leave.
Earlier Saturday, the FAA ordered a ground stop for some Seattle-bound flights because of wind. A ground stop holds affected flights at their departure airports. Under the delay program, flights can depart at assigned times so arrivals reach Seattle at a pace controllers can handle.
If you’re connecting in Seattle, check both flights before you leave for the airport. A delay on your first flight can shorten your connection even if the second flight is still listed as on time. Check the FAA airspace board for changes to the program.
