What to know about flight delays at DFW airport on Christmas Eve?

The Federal Aviation Administration called a ground stop at DFW International Airport on the morning of Christmas Eve due to weather and thunderstorms, causing delays for several passengers traveling for the holiday.

Here’s what you need to know about flight delays at DFW Airport during the busiest travel season of the year.

Why are flights grounded?

A ground stop was called at the airport after 7:30 for weather conditions, meaning all planes were grounded.

Thunderstorms, some with the possibility of strong winds and hail, are expected to sweep through the D-FW area throughout the day, according to the National Weather Service. The showers could possibly bring between half an inch and three-quarters of an inch of rain.

The ground stop could be lifted later Tuesday, according to the FAA. There is one though medium chance that it could be extended, the advisor stated.

This morning’s weather-related shutdown could exacerbate delays for American Airlines passengers whose flights were also grounded earlier due to a separate issue aside from the storms.

American Airlines system problems

Just before 6 a.m. Tuesday morning, the FAA ordered all American Airlines flights grounded in the U.S. at the airline’s request. The Fort Worth-based airline had reported a technical problem affecting its entire system with millions traveling on the holiday.

The problem was a “supplier technology issue” that “briefly affected flights,” the airline said in a statement before 10 p.m. 8. The problem affected systems needed to release flights.

“We sincerely apologize to our customers for the inconvenience this morning. It’s all hands on deck as our team works hard to get customers where they need to go as quickly as possible,” the airline said in the statement.

A posting on the FAA’s website acknowledged the airline’s request for a “nationwide ground stop” for all American Airlines aircraft and its subsidiaries. The ground stop lasted about an hour, according to the airline.

American Airlines flights have since been cleared to take off by regulators.

Several passengers who spoke with Dallas Morning News Tuesday said they had not experienced any delays yet. However, a few reported delays of around 60-90 minutes, but said they were unsure whether it was due to the network failure or the weather.

Delays when wet

DFW Airport has had bouts of flight delays in the past due to severe weather conditions and thunderstorms.

Recent delays include a situation in May where thousands of North Texas travelers faced a cancellation or delay due to inclement weather in the last week of May. Over the Memorial Day weekend, many travelers were stranded at the airport or had to go home because a flight wouldn’t take off.

DFW International Airport expected its “busiest winter holiday season ever” with an estimated 4.7 million passengers traveling through the airport from Dec. 20 to Jan. 7, according to a news release.

The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 40 million passengers over the holiday and through Jan. 2.