The Federal Aviation Administration issued a one-hour ground stop for all inbound flights to Miami International Airport (MIA) on the morning of 14 January 2026 due to “low ceilings” and dense fog that dropped cloud bases to just 200 feet. The halt, in place from 08:30 to 09:30 a.m. local time, forced airlines nationwide to hold departures and re-slot arrival banks once the stop was lifted. Local media reported at least 143 delays and five cancellations by mid-afternoon. (wsvn.com)
American Airlines and Delta, the two largest operators at MIA, waived change fees for same-day travel, but passengers still faced missed connections to Latin America and the Caribbean—key markets for U.S. corporate travelers and expatriate shuttles. Freight forwarders also encountered knock-on delays in perishable-goods shipments transiting Miami’s cold-chain facilities.
![Dense fog triggers FAA ground stop at Miami International, delaying more than 140 flights]()
For travelers scrambling to rebook during such disruptions, having travel documents squared away is just as vital as securing a seat. VisaHQ’s online service (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/) can fast-track U.S. and onward visas, renew passports, and arrange embassy appointments, helping prevent paperwork surprises from compounding the chaos of weather-related schedule changes.
The timing is sensitive: Miami is preparing for a holiday-weekend travel surge tied to Monday’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship. Airport management said it has augmented staffing for ramp operations and de-icing trucks, though fog, rather than cold, proved the primary disruptor.
Travel-risk consultants advise mobility managers to maintain buffer times on tight same-day connections through MIA during winter months, when sea-breeze inversions often generate early-morning fog. Companies with expatriate rotations in Latin America should monitor onward flight status and have emergency lodging budgets in place.
American Airlines and Delta, the two largest operators at MIA, waived change fees for same-day travel, but passengers still faced missed connections to Latin America and the Caribbean—key markets for U.S. corporate travelers and expatriate shuttles. Freight forwarders also encountered knock-on delays in perishable-goods shipments transiting Miami’s cold-chain facilities.
For travelers scrambling to rebook during such disruptions, having travel documents squared away is just as vital as securing a seat. VisaHQ’s online service (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/) can fast-track U.S. and onward visas, renew passports, and arrange embassy appointments, helping prevent paperwork surprises from compounding the chaos of weather-related schedule changes.
The timing is sensitive: Miami is preparing for a holiday-weekend travel surge tied to Monday’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship. Airport management said it has augmented staffing for ramp operations and de-icing trucks, though fog, rather than cold, proved the primary disruptor.
Travel-risk consultants advise mobility managers to maintain buffer times on tight same-day connections through MIA during winter months, when sea-breeze inversions often generate early-morning fog. Companies with expatriate rotations in Latin America should monitor onward flight status and have emergency lodging budgets in place.
