FAA Issues Warning: Florida Flights Could Experience Delays of Up to 2 Hours Due to Starship Launches

As regulators evaluate SpaceX’s plans to launch its massive Starship rocket from Kennedy Space Center, federal documents suggest these flights could significantly impact Florida airspace, resulting in ground stops at various airports, reroutes, and delays of up to two hours.

Following the launch, the reentry of the two stages of Starship may also require ground stops at some of the busiest airports across the country, according to a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) released by the Federal Aviation Administration this month.

Airports in Florida that might be affected by the launches include Orlando International, Miami International, Tampa International, and Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International.

Delays are expected to average between 40 minutes and 2 hours for both launches and Super Heavy booster landings, while Starship reentries could lead to delays of 40 minutes to an hour. Diversions and cancellations may also take place, as indicated by a companion slide deck from the FAA.

To mitigate risks, the FAA intends to set up Aircraft Hazard Areas (AHAs) over regions that might be impacted, similar to current procedures for commercial space launches. Depending on Starship’s flight trajectory, these zones could encompass routes over the Atlantic Ocean, parts of the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, and airspace in several Central American countries.

“AHAs may necessitate the closure of numerous coastal and deep-water oceanic airways over the Atlantic, requiring extensive rerouting of aircraft,” states the draft EIS regarding Starship launches.

Emily Nipps, a spokesperson for Tampa International Airport, informed TechCrunch that the airport has not yet engaged in any briefings or procedural planning with the FAA or SpaceX. However, following inquiries from TechCrunch, Nipps mentioned that the airport would begin discussions “soon.”

“I’m not yet certain how that will impact our operations,” she stated.

A representative from Miami International mentioned that they have not yet received any briefings regarding potential ground stops.

For years, SpaceX has been launching its primary Falcon rockets from the Florida coast, with a significant increase since 2020. While over 80 Falcon rockets were launched from the Eastern Range last year, these have generally not disrupted commercial airline services. However, Falcon rockets are quite different from Starship: their smaller size results in a reduced debris footprint in case of anomalies, and Falcon launches have become stable and predictable. In contrast, Starship is still in its developmental stages, with vehicles occasionally facing failures during ground tests and orbital launches.

Indeed, the draft EIS notes that the scope of airspace closures may vary with each Starship mission and could decrease as the vehicle becomes more reliable.

An FAA representative stated that the agency has already collaborated with aviation organizations and worked with SpaceX to devise hypothetical launch and reentry trajectories. Prior to any launch, the agency will also provide a final Airspace Management Plan. The FAA evaluates several factors, including the number of passengers impacted, launch window duration, and major holidays, to determine when a space launch can proceed, the spokesperson added.

Starship is SpaceX’s next-generation launch system meant for missions to the Moon and Mars. Standing 400 feet tall, the rocket consists of two stages: the upper stage (Starship) and the Super Heavy booster. Both stages are designed for full reusability and rapid refurbishment to enable frequent satellite deliveries and deep-space missions.

Currently, SpaceX conducts all Starship launches from Starbase in South Texas but plans to expand operations to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, which initiated the environmental review. This review is undertaken by the FAA in partnership with NASA, the Air Force, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and other federal agencies.

The draft EIS assesses the potential for up to 44 Starship launches each year, which could also involve as many as 44 Super Heavy booster landings and 44 Starship landings. The Super Heavy could return to LC-39A (the launch pad at KSC), land on a drone ship, or be expended in the Atlantic. Similarly, Starship landings might occur at the pad, on a ship, or splash down in water with retrieval in the Atlantic, Pacific, or Indian Oceans.

The FAA indicated in the draft EIS that while temporary airspace closures may affect commercial airlines and other stakeholders, “mitigation strategies such as pre-coordinated reroutes, dynamic scheduling, and time-based traffic flow management could reduce operational impacts.”

Currently, the FAA utilizes a prototype tool called Space Data Integrator, which collects real-time flight data from SpaceX and other operators to shorten the duration of airspace closures. The regulator aims to develop additional tools to enhance its situational awareness capabilities, gaining more data on operations with each Starship launch.

The U.S. Space Force is conducting a parallel environmental review at nearby Cape Canaveral Space Force Base, contemplating up to 76 annual Starship launches. The draft EIS for that location acknowledges that Starship launches would indeed result in airspace closures, but specific details regarding those closures are still under development since preparations for that site are expected to take several months.

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