Conditions improving at Atlanta airport; fewer canceled flights, shorter wait times

ATLANTA - While conditions have improved since the winter storm that swept through the region, many travelers are still grappling with the aftermath, particularly at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world’s busiest airport.

As of 11p.m. on Sunday, 958 flights had been delayed, and 34 cancellations had been reported, according to data from FlightAware. The situation, while better than Friday and Saturday, still reflected the storm's significant impact on travel plans.

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On Friday alone, over 1,500 flights were canceled, creating a ripple effect that has left passengers stranded at airports and destinations across the country. The challenges continued into Saturday, with 360 flights canceled by the end of the day.

Travelers like Gabriela Cabezas were among the lucky ones to avoid disruptions.

"We got a warning that our flight might be canceled or delayed, but thankfully it wasn't," she shared. "We were worried, but everything turned out fine, and we even flew earlier than planned."

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) also felt the storm’s impact. High staff callouts on Saturday forced the closure of the North TSA checkpoint, leading to security lines waiting as long as three hours. TSA officials have since responded by overstaffing checkpoints to manage the ongoing challenges, with lines improving significantly today. Current wait times at the main checkpoint were around 15 minutes, a drastic improvement from Saturday's hours-long delays.

Travelers were still advised to plan ahead and arrive at the airport at least 2.5 hours before their flight to navigate security lines and potential parking challenges. With delays and cancellations still possible, extra preparation remained key to avoiding further disruptions.