Ground Stop vs Airport Closure: What's the Difference?
A ground stop holds departures to an airport that is still open. A closure shuts the airport entirely — no arrivals, no departures. Closures are usually published as NOTAMs with a stated reopening time.
The difference that matters
| Aspect | Ground stop | Airport closure |
|---|---|---|
| Airport open? | Yes | No |
| Arrivals | Normally allowed | None — diversions |
| Departures | Held to the affected destination | None |
| Published as | Traffic management advisory | NOTAM |
| Reopening time | Estimate, frequently extended | Stated in the NOTAM, can change |
The practical difference is what you should do. With a stop, stay near the gate and watch the airline app. With a closure, start working on a diversion, a ground alternative or a hotel, because your aircraft is not coming to that airport.
How closures appear in the data
Closures show up as NOTAM text such as 'AD AP CLSD' (aerodrome closed) with a validity window like 2611140600-2611141400 — start and end in YYMMDDHHMM UTC. The FAA feed sometimes carries the closure as a structured event and sometimes only as free-text NOTAM inside another record, which is why a good tracker has to parse both.
Partial closures and runway closures
Most 'closures' passengers encounter are partial: one runway closed, or the airport closed to non-emergency traffic while remaining open for medevac and relief flights. Those produce reduced arrival rates rather than zero capacity, and they show up as delay programs rather than a full stop.
Sources
FAQ
Is a ground stop the same as a closed airport?
No. A ground stop assumes the airport is open and accepting arrivals. A closure means the field is not available at all.
How long do airport closures last?
Most NOTAM closures last 1–8 hours. Weather closures can be shorter; infrastructure closures can run days.
Will my airline tell me if the airport is closed?
Usually, but slowly. The NOTAM feed and airport status pages update before airline apps do.