The inability to ready aircraft for departure during ramp closures will result in a delayed gate pushback time (on average amounting to several tens of minutes per affected fight).

A lightning delay typically lasts for a minimum of 30 minutes from the last recorded strike within a specific safety radius (usually 5 to 10 miles) of the airport. This "30-minute rule" is a standard safety protocol for ground operations; when lightning is detected, all ramp activity—including baggage handling, fueling, and aircraft marshalling—must stop immediately to protect the ground crew from potential strikes. Even if the plane itself is safe from lightning due to its "Faraday cage" design, it cannot depart if the crew cannot safely prepare it on the tarmac. If another strike occurs within that radius during the waiting period, the 30-minute clock resets. This can lead to a "rolling delay" that stretches for hours if a thunderstorm is slow-moving. For passengers, this often results in a ripple effect: even a short local storm can cause a backlog of planes waiting for gates and takeoff slots. Once the "all clear" is given, it can take an additional 20 to 45 minutes for ground crews to resume their duties and get the flight back on schedule, assuming there are no further weather threats in the flight path.