ARLINGTON, VA — Travelers flying into Reagan National Airport could face delays Friday as low clouds and poor visibility force federal aviation officials to limit the number of arriving flights.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground delay program for the airport Friday morning, with arriving flights facing average delays of 44 minutes and maximum delays of 94 minutes.
The restrictions are tied to low cloud ceilings, which affect how many aircraft can safely land at the airport.
According to the FAA, Reagan National is initially operating with a reduced arrival capacity of 20 flights per hour. That number is expected to gradually increase as weather conditions improve.
The agency anticipates intermittent operations using Runway 1 for arrivals and Runway 19 for departures until about 11 a.m. to noon or later, when improving cloud conditions and prevailing southerly winds could let the airport switch to Runway 19 for both arrivals and departures.
However, the FAA cautioned that those improvements depend on the weather.
The ground delay program is scheduled to remain in effect into Friday evening, although restrictions could be adjusted or lifted earlier if conditions improve.
The program affects flights departing from airports across the contiguous United States and several Canadian airports.
Passengers traveling through Reagan National should check their flight status directly with their airline before heading to the airport.
Travelers can also monitor conditions through the FAA's National Airspace System Status website or check flight information at Reagan National Airport.
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