NEWS: Over 400 Flights Are DELAYED at Orlando International Airport

If you’ve planned a Disney World trip, you’ve probably figured out the basics: like what your budget is, where you’re staying, what tickets you need, and more.

Orlando International Airport

Of course, there’s also the matter of GETTING to Disney World, but for most of us, that means flying into Orlando International Airport. However, that is often easier said than done. Well, today is one of those easier-said-than-done days because there are a TON of delays affecting the airport right now — but it isn’t just the airport dealing with delays. Yep, travel in and around Orlando is COMPLICATED right now.

UPDATE: as of 4PM ET on Sunday, December 29th, more flight delays have been reported at Orlando International Airport. Over 500 flights have been delayed in Orlando, while 25 have been canceled. Again, the majority of delays are coming from Southwest Airlines with 129 delays (43% of the airline;s daily flights into and out of Orlando International Airport).

©FlightAware

So right now, there are a whopping 402 flights delayed at Orlando International Airport, according to FlightAware. Of the airlines affected, 150 of those flights are Southwest flights, which seems to be affected the most. However, most airlines seem to be having some issues right now.

©FlightAware

So what’s going on? Well, most of these delays are due to weather in the South, which has brought storms and thunderstorms. It makes sense that Southwest is so backed up, as Houston Hobby Airport is a major Southwest Airlines hub, and Texas is one of the states badly impacted by bad weather. According to NBC News, multiple tornadoes were reported in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi over the last few days. An EF-1 tornado struck the Houston area on Thursday.

Southwest

The risk for storms remains through the weekend, including today, December 28th, which will also add to the flight delays. As of 11AMET, there have been 5,023 flight delays and 175 cancellations across the U.S. due to the storms.

So what can you do? Well, if you’re flying today, be sure to have your phone’s notifications set to send you alerts from your airline. You can also keep an eye on your airline’s app to keep track of delays.

Orlando International Airport

However, airlines aren’t the only ones struggling today. Brightline trains are also currently experiencing delays, as announced on Brightline’s X account. You can check for those delays by visiting the Brightline website. Note that one train on the Orlando route has been canceled.

Brightline is currently experiencing limited delays. Please check train status updates on our website or app for the latest information: https://t.co/MiIrREKDJp

— Brightline (@GoBrightline) December 28, 2024

We’ll keep an eye out for more travel delays, so stay tuned to DFB for more.

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