July 14, 2026

Reagan National just exited a VIP-movement ground stop, Atlanta's noon window passed without firing, and Houston's GDP was purged

ADVZY 068, written at 11:41 AM ET after the 1315Z planning webinar, shows DCA's VIP ground stop ending at 1 PM ET with a GDP probable at 1:30 PM. IAH's GDP was purged. ATL's noon window didn't fire. TPA/MCO and ATL remain possible this afternoon.

The FAA's operations plan (ADVZY 068, dated July 14, written 15:41Z) opened with a line the prior advisory did not have: "DUE TO A VIP MOVEMENT DCA PUBLISHED A GROUND STOP." Reagan National's ground stop ran until 1700Z (1 PM ET), and the FAA expects it to "more than likely exit the ground stop into a ground delay program" at 1730Z (1:30 PM ET). Diversion recovery was issued for DCA. VIP-movement ground stops at National are not weather-related. An FAA spokesperson told The Mirror in April that they allow a government official to move safely through the area and typically do not halt scheduled commercial traffic on their own. The transition into a GDP is the part that would assign controlled departure times to inbound commercial flights. The advisory also lists a VIP departure from Austin at 1700Z (1 PM ET) and a VIP arrival at Andrews AFB at 2000Z (4 PM ET).

The last issue, written three hours ago, said "ATL ground stop remains possible at noon ET" and "no terminal ground stop or delay program is active right now." Both are now wrong. DCA's ground stop was active. And Atlanta's noon window (1600Z) came and went without a ground stop or delay program firing. FlightAware counts just 23 delays and 1 cancellation at Hartsfield-Jackson today. ADVZY 068 still lists ATL as POSSIBLE for a ground stop or delay program, now with a window extending to 0000Z (8 PM ET). Terminal constraints note low ceilings at ATL, with thunderstorms forecast across the I90 corridor and Florida.

Houston's disruption is over. The morning ground stop at Bush Intercontinental, which the Houston Chronicle reported began at 7:30 AM CT with departures expected grounded until 8:30 AM, has ended. ADVZY 068 states plainly: "IAH GDP HAS BEEN PURGED." FlightAware counts 5 delays and 5 cancellations at IAH today. IAH and HOU are no longer in the terminal plan at all. United's South Texas Thunderstorm waiver remains active for July 14 flights to and from Austin, Houston, and San Antonio, with rebooking through July 17. No other carrier has issued a new waiver today.

The afternoon convective window is opening now. TPA and MCO ground stops are POSSIBLE after 1700Z (1 PM ET), and ATL remains POSSIBLE until 0000Z (8 PM ET). PHX joins the plan at 2300Z (7 PM ET). DFW and Dallas Love Field are out of the terminal plan entirely, though en route CDRS and SWAP reroutes through ZFW remain possible until 0200Z. SFO's ground delay program (fog, averaging 49 minutes) is active until 2059Z (4:59 PM ET). The next FAA planning webinar is at 1715Z (1:15 PM ET), which may sharpen the afternoon forecast. Staffing triggers are clean today, unlike the July 7 storms that compounded weather with ATC shortages.

The World Cup semifinal between France and Spain kicks off at 2 PM CT (3 PM ET) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. DFW and DAL being pulled from the terminal plan is good news for fans flying in today, though en route reroutes through Fort Worth Center could still slow arrivals from the south. Tomorrow's semifinal, England vs Argentina, is at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta at 3 PM ET. ATL remains in the forecast as POSSIBLE for a ground stop or delay program through 8 PM ET today, and the same convective pattern could repeat tomorrow. Fans positioning into Atlanta for that match should watch the afternoon forecast closely.