Flying during the solar eclipse? These airports could see delays, FAA says

U.S. Khristopher J 29/03/2024

Air travel was already expected to pick up next week because of Spring Break, but Federal Aviation Administration officials said now until mid-April will be increasingly busy due to "the Great North American Eclipse."

Many Americans are planning on flying on April 8, the day when the U.S. will experience a total solar eclipse that will track across the sky from Texas to Maine. While some eclipse chasers will be heading toward states in its main path, others are timing flights in order to view it while airborne.

The eclipse "will likely mean crowded parking lots at airports and long lines at security checkpoints," Marisa Garcia, a senior contributor at Forbes, told CBS News. 

"It's going to be hectic but fun," she added. "Go with the mindset that it's going to be busy and pack light and pack carefully. Be patient and pleasant with everyone."

Passengers on the day of the eclipse should expect air traffic delays and an usually high number of drones in the skies, FAA Senior Technical Advisor Kevin Morris said in an advisory video. 

According to the FAA, these airports could see delays on April 8:

  • Little Rock, Arkansas
  • Chicago
  • Indianapolis
  • Boston
  • Kansas City, Missouri
  • Buffalo
  • Cleveland
  • Toledo, Ohio
  • Erie, Pennsylvania
  • Memphis
  • Austin, Texas
  • Dallas
  • Houston
  • San Antonio, Texas
  • Burlington, Vermont

Garcia said American Airlines could see the biggest delays at Dallas-Fort Worth, the airline's main hub, which is squarely within the eclipse's path of totality — where it can be seen in full. 

Officials in Erie, Pennsylvania, said they expect roughly 250,000 people to flock to the area for the eclipse. Meanwhile, tourism for the big event is expected to bring $1 billion in  Texas. 

Khristopher J. Brooks

Khristopher J. Brooks is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch. He previously worked as a reporter for the Omaha World-Herald, Newsday and the Florida Times-Union. His reporting primarily focuses on the U.S. housing market, the business of sports and bankruptcy.

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