Atlanta flights decimated as ice storm descends
More travel misery is anticipated at the world’s busiest airport as an ice storm bears down on the Southeast.
Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport expects less than 300 flights to operate today with Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines hardest hit.
The carrier has canceled more than 1,500 Delta and Delta Connection flights scheduled for today.
This follows over 500 flight cancelations by the carrier yesterday.
Southwest Airlines and AirTran Airways issued a joint statement saying all the two airlines’ flights from Atlanta are likely to be canceled.
Airport spokesman Reese McCranie said all travelers should check with their respective airlines before going to the airport, adding that all the airlines are being "supremely cautious."
As Atlanta is such an important connecting hub, the knock-on effect of cancelations and delays will likely be felt right across the country.
McCranie said the airport will remain open all week and have deployed essential operational staff working 12-hour shifts to deal with de-icing.
A state of emergency was declared yesterday in Georgia with National Guard troops on standby.
Downtown Atlanta was virtually deserted with schools and government offices closed.
City officials have taken a proactive stance after criticism when hundreds of motorists were stranded for hours during a snow jam two weeks ago.
Elsewhere in the region, north Mississippi was expecting four inches of snow and up to eight inches in parts of South Carolina.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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