ATLANTA – A severe winter storm swept through metro Atlanta on Friday, grounding flights and disrupting travel plans for thousands of passengers. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world’s busiest airport, is grappling with significant delays, cancelations, and ground stops as heavy snowfall and ice blanket the region.
RELATED: Live Atlanta winter storm updates
Atlanta airport delays
More than 1,400 flights to and from Atlanta were canceled and more than 350 flights were delayed as of 9 p.m. on Friday, according to FlightAware. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported multiple ground stops which spanned through the early evening hours.
The FAA estimates a ground delay program will remain in effect until at least 9:49 p.m., with average delays of nearly four hours.
WATCH LIVE FEED FROM THE ATLANTA AIRPORT
The day began with a ground stop issued at 7:50 a.m., scheduled to end at 10 a.m., as snowfall accumulated across the city and surrounding areas. By 7:30 a.m., 295 outbound flights and 299 inbound flights had been canceled, representing nearly 30% of total operations at the airport. Flight delays numbered 175 outbound and 158 inbound. Total cancelations across the U.S. reached 2,272 by 7:45 a.m., with delays exceeding 10,900.
Hartsfield-Jackson issued a statement saying, “We’re monitoring the forecast and conditions and working with our partners to address any challenges posed by the inclement weather. We’ve implemented our winter weather protocol and remind our passengers to monitor their airlines’ social media channels and apps for flight information.”
Travelers are advised to check flight statuses before heading to the airport and allow extra time for travel as icy roads continue to pose challenges, despite ongoing efforts by the Georgia Department of Transportation to treat roadways.
Delta, Southwest flight delays
Delta Air Lines, Atlanta’s largest carrier, has borne the brunt of the disruption, canceling approximately 1,100 flgiths as of 10 p.m. Endeavor Air reported 196 cancelations, and Southwest Airlines canceled 127 flights. In a statement, Delta acknowledged the challenges posed by the storm, which brought worse-than-expected conditions to its Atlanta hub.
“Delta is managing worse-than-expected winter weather across the Southeast this weekend, including at our Atlanta hub, where all runways were closed by 9:20 a.m. ET,” the airline said. “We have canceled ~500 Delta and Delta Connection flights for Jan. 10. On Jan. 8, we issued a fare-difference waiver to allow customers to move existing bookings around the storm forecast. Delta will consider additional schedule adjustments as conditions dictate to safely manage through this storm’s impact.”
Earlier in the day, Delta reported that the storm reduced deicing capabilities and slowed operations, forcing the closure of all five runways at the airport by mid-morning.
Delta flight evacuated
At 9 a.m., a Delta plane was forced to abort takeoff due to an engine problem. Passengers evacuated via emergency slides, and four individuals sustained minor injuries. One person required treatment.
READ MORE: 4 injured after evacuation of Delta plane at Atlanta airport
Conditions at Atlanta airport
Two FOX 5 employees, photojournalist Matt Stringer and reporter Tyler Fingert, were among those caught in the travel nightmare. Stringer shared his ordeal, detailing a 15-hour experience filled with canceled flights and repeated boarding attempts. “This morning at 6:50, we boarded. By 10:00, we were off the plane, back on, and then off again. I watched a movie while we sat at the gate for two-and-a-half hours,” Stringer explained. After multiple delays and confusion, his flight was ultimately canceled. “We were on and off the same plane three times,” he added.
Fingert had his own grueling travel story. Returning from Washington, D.C., where he covered a significant event, Fingert described his day starting at 4 a.m. with a flight initially scheduled for 6 a.m. but delayed until 2 p.m. “The airport authorities didn’t want too many planes on the ground here when things weren’t going out,” he said, noting how other FOX 5 colleagues flying from different airports were luckier in avoiding delays.
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Fingert, who frequently reports from the airport, explained how severe weather created cascading issues for airlines. “Back in December, the airport conducted a readiness drill for weather like this,” he said. “But when a storm drops more snow than expected, along with freezing rain, it’s a recipe for chaos. By 9:20 a.m., Delta reported that every single runway was unusable.”
The impacts were widespread, with grounded planes and crews “timing out” due to legal limits on working hours. “There’s only so much time pilots and flight attendants can work,” Fingert said. “When that time runs out, flights get canceled unless reserve crews are available, which isn’t always the case in places like Baltimore.”
Despite the turmoil, Fingert remained optimistic as he prepared for another flight — this time to Colorado for a skiing trip. Meanwhile, Stringer stayed behind, joking, “Tyler flew in, went home, got his skis, and now he’s flying out. And I’m still here.”
The Source: The FAA and FlightAware provided details on cancelations and delays. Other details were provided by original reporting by FOX 5’s Rob DiRienzo.
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