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Update on travel conditions at Hartsfield-Jackson airport
It's a busy day of travel at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. And although there are a few delays, there have not been any cancelations as of noon. We also now have more info about what happened to the flight to Amsterdam that was canceled on Tuesday night.
ATLANTA - The Federal Aviation Administration expects this Thanksgiving travel period to be the busiest in 15 years, with more than 52,000 flights scheduled nationwide. Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport was already seeing heavy traffic early Wednesday morning as travelers headed out to visit family and friends.
What we know:
Despite severe weather causing a brief ground stop and hundreds of delays Tuesday in Atlanta, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said fliers should not expect major delays tied to air traffic control staffing. While towers remain understaffed, he said staffing levels have returned to where they were before the last government shutdown.
What they're saying:
Travelers at the airport Wednesday morning said they booked flights strategically to avoid the peak rush.
At noon on Wednesday, wait times at the main security checkpoint hovered around 12 minutes, far lower than what many travelers expected. FlightAware reported just over 75 delays and no cancellations as of midday.
Travelers told FOX 5 Atlanta they were heading out to reunite with loved ones, decorate for the holidays and attend long-awaited family gatherings.
AAA projects 2.3 million Georgians will drive to their holiday destinations, with the heaviest road congestion expected Sunday as travelers return home. To ease the flow, the Georgia Department of Transportation has suspended lane closures on interstates and major state routes through Sunday night. Additionally, operational adjustments have been made to the express lanes on Interstate 75 to help with the flow of holiday traffic.
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Atlanta airport busy with Thanksgiving travelers
The Federal Aviation Administration expects this Thanksgiving travel period to be the busiest in 15 years, with more than 52,000 flights scheduled nationwide. Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is already seeing heavy traffic as travelers head out to visit family and friends.
Airport officials urge passengers to arrive early, check bags for prohibited items — particularly firearms — and use ATL’s website for real-time parking and security wait updates.