(BCN) -- A ground delay program released by the Federal Aviation Administration on Friday morning is expected to cause major delays for hundreds of flights at San Francisco International Airport throughout the day. A low cloud ceiling at SFO prompted the FAA to delay flights departing and arriving from the airport between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. Friday, with disruptions expected to average 70 minutes. The program will affect all flights flying to and from San Francisco in the contiguous United States and select Canadian cities, with minimal impact expected on arriving international flights. Flights destined for SFO will delay their departures, especially those within California, to comply with the policy of only 36 arrivals an hour. Historic Emmett House in Belmont hits market at $2.788M Decreased visibility due to low clouds requires more aircraft to have more separation when in the air, to ensure the safety of each airplane. Two of the airport's runways are undergoing maintenance, limiting the available runways for takeoffs and landings. An airport spokesperson said over 200 flights were already experiencing delays as of 11 a.m., while more are expected throughout the day. Flight tracking website FlightAware reported the average delay at SFO was an hour and 15 minutes. United, Southwest, and SkyWest were the airlines with the most delays reported so far. Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport and San Jose Mineta International Airport are each experiencing 22 delays, according to FlightAware. Neither airport, however, has received a ground delay program advisory from the FAA. Travelers are advised to check with their respective airlines to see how their itineraries may have been impacted. Copyright © 2026 Bay City News, Inc. ...read more read less