As of 2008, the Federal Aviation Administration reports delays for aircraft that accumulate a delay of 15 minutes or more throughout the duration of the flight. Each holding segment is redorded as one delay. The Operations Network (OPSNET) Database delay data dating back to the year 2000 have been converted to be consistent with the new definitions. Beginning in 2008 the FAA started to combine Air Route Traffic Control Center volume and Airport Terminal volume and retroactively applied this change through the year 2000.
Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding.
* FAA is Federal Aviation Administration.
** After pushing back from the gate.
*** Data are unavailable from 2000 to 2009.
Citation formats
U.S. departure and en route delays - FAA-cited causes
The time line shows FAA-cited causes of U.S. departure and en route delays from 1987 to 2009. In 2000, ** percent of all delays were caused by weather.
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Bureau of Transportation Statistics, & RITA. (April 1, 2011). FAA-cited* causes of U.S. departure and en route delays** from 1987 to 2009 (in percent) [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved August 01, 2026, from /statistics/186321/faa-cited-causes-of-us-departure-and-en-route-delays-since-1987/
Bureau of Transportation Statistics, und RITA. "FAA-cited* causes of U.S. departure and en route delays** from 1987 to 2009 (in percent)." Chart. April 1, 2011. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed August 01, 2026. /statistics/186321/faa-cited-causes-of-us-departure-and-en-route-delays-since-1987/
Bureau of Transportation Statistics, RITA. (2011). FAA-cited* causes of U.S. departure and en route delays** from 1987 to 2009 (in percent). ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: August 01, 2026. /statistics/186321/faa-cited-causes-of-us-departure-and-en-route-delays-since-1987/
Bureau of Transportation Statistics, and RITA. "Faa-cited* Causes of U.S. Departure and En Route Delays** from 1987 to 2009 (in Percent)." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 1 Apr 2011, /statistics/186321/faa-cited-causes-of-us-departure-and-en-route-delays-since-1987/
Bureau of Transportation Statistics & RITA, FAA-cited* causes of U.S. departure and en route delays** from 1987 to 2009 (in percent) ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/186321/faa-cited-causes-of-us-departure-and-en-route-delays-since-1987/ (last visited August 01, 2026)
FAA-cited* causes of U.S. departure and en route delays** from 1987 to 2009 (in percent) [Graph], Bureau of Transportation Statistics, & RITA, April 1, 2011. [Online]. Available: /statistics/186321/faa-cited-causes-of-us-departure-and-en-route-delays-since-1987/
