Hartsfield-Jackson International prepares for ice storm and potential disruptions

Atlanta airport ice storm preps | full press conference

Officials at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport give an update on how their teams are preparing for an incoming ice storm likely to impact travel.

ATLANTA - Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is in high-gear preparation mode as a significant winter storm approaches metro Atlanta this weekend. With a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain in the forecast, airport officials are taking proactive steps to avoid a repeat of last year's weather-related gridlock.

Airport officials prepared

What we know:

On Friday, airport leaders showed off the equipment and preparations they’ll use in an effort to keep the airport open, following last January’s winter storm that crippled operations for hours.

The airport has activated its cold weather playbook ahead of the weekend forecast.

Airport officials say they have more than 100,000 gallons of liquid brine and deicer on hand, along with nearly 100 tons of solid deicer and a sand-salt mix.

Last year’s winter storm is still fresh on the minds of airport operations staff. The snowstorm brought the airport to a halt for hours as crews worked to clear runways. That day, efforts were further complicated when a Delta Air Lines plane had to be evacuated on a runway. 

After that storm, the airport invested millions of dollars to improve winter preparedness.

Airport officials say more than 50 trucks will be working to keep the airport open and that a runway can be cleared in about 30 minutes. Aircraft will also need to be deiced, with designated locations across the airfield for that process.

Airlines are already canceling some flights, and officials urge travelers to check their flight status before heading to the airport.

Learning from the past

Big picture view:

Airport leadership spent the last year analyzing the January 2025 storm that "crippled" the world's busiest airport for several hours. That event was exacerbated by a runway emergency involving a Delta aircraft and impassable taxiways. To prevent a similar failure, ATL has implemented:

• Enhanced training: Round-the-clock drills for operating new specialized machinery.
• Expert support: Delta is bringing in cold-weather specialists from northern hubs to assist local de-icing and baggage teams.
• Equipment upgrades: The fleet now includes new snowplows, scrapers, and liquid brine trucks specifically for ice accumulation.

Operation and travel advice

Local perspective:

While flights are currently landing and taking off as scheduled, conditions are expected to deteriorate quickly once the "wintry mix" arrives. Airport CEO Ricky Smith stated that teams are in "preparation mode" to keep operations moving as safely and smoothly as possible.

• Airlines: Delta, Frontier, and American have issued waivers for flights through Monday.
• Runway maintenance: More than 50 pieces of equipment will be deployed starting Saturday.
• Passenger protocol: Check flight status via airline apps before leaving for the airport.

Safety and services

Dig deeper:

In addition to airfield maintenance, the city is coordinating with airport management to ensure that if passengers are stranded, essential services—including food and maintained facilities—remain operational throughout the storm's duration.

‘We want to be better than we were last year’

What they're saying:

Deputy General Manager Gus Hudson said crews plan to get ahead of the weather before it arrives.

"We'll actually start having treatments as early as six tomorrow afternoon before the precipitation comes in, so we are prepared and we get ahead of it and then when snow actually, or rain actually comes, and it freezes over, this equipment will be out there," Hudson said.

While winter weather is not common in Atlanta, leaders say crews are trained and ready.

"We are expecting that we'll have snow and ice that we have to deal with, but it's something that they train for. We have the equipment, we have the materials. So we think that we are ready to ensure we have the best operation," Hudson said.

Assistant General Manager of Maintenance Christopher Jackman said new equipment will help crews clear runways faster than before.

"We've added some new equipment this year so we can clear the airfield at a higher rate of speed and return it back to the airlines for day operations a lot sooner than we were able to in the past," Jackman said.

"We want to be better than we were last year, and our ability to get our runways and taxiways open to keep aircraft moving around the around the country," Hudson said.