Travel headaches are continuing at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as hundreds of flight delays and cancellations were reported Wednesday morning, creating ongoing frustration for passengers across the country’s busiest airport.
According to officials, the main issue stems from a significant TSA staffing shortage tied to the ongoing partial government shutdown, which has left many officers working without pay since mid-February. As a result, call-outs have surged, with roughly 34% of TSA workers absent, leading to long security lines and operational slowdowns.
Travelers have been experiencing wait times of up to two hours in recent days just to get through security. As of Wednesday morning, wait times were still elevated, including:
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Around 53 minutes at the main checkpoint
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About 36 minutes at the north checkpoint
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Approximately 26 minutes at the south checkpoint (PreCheck only)
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Roughly 13 minutes at the international terminal
In addition to security delays, flight disruptions continue to pile up. Reports showed over 120 delays and nearly 60 cancellations early Wednesday alone, further compounding travel issues for passengers.
To make matters worse, ongoing construction at the airport is also impacting traffic flow, including lane closures and delays in shuttle services—making drop-offs and pickups more difficult for travelers.
Officials are urging passengers to arrive early, plan ahead, and allow extra time for both security screening and navigating the airport as these disruptions continue.
(Photo by Megan Varner/Getty Images)
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