Hurricane Helene: Flight delays, cancellations growing at Atlanta airport

As Georgia prepares for the impact of now Tropical Storm Helene, dozens of flights have already been delayed or cancelled at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

FlightAware currently shows over 400 flight delays and more than 200 flight cancellations so far Thursday. On Wednesday, more than 1,100 flights were delayed at the airport.

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Hurricane Helene is expected to make landfall as a Category 3 hurricane in Florida’s Big Bend on Thursday. After making landfall, Hurricane Helene will then move across Georgia and into metro Atlanta late Thursday night and into Friday morning as a tropical storm.

Several airlines have issued travel waivers, including Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines.

“Delta suspended operations at airports that closed in advance of Helene’s arrival in coordination local officials. Additional flights could be delayed or canceled because of winds and other conditions caused by Hurricane Helene.”

Delta says it anticipates more changes to its schedule Friday morning.

The airline says flights to, from and through Atlanta for Sept. 27 can be rebooked before Oct. 1. The fare difference will be waived.

Flights for Sept. 25 through Sept. 27 can be rebooked by Oct. 4 for travelers with fare difference waived in the following cities:

• Albany, Georgia
• Augusta, Georgia
• Brunswick, Georgia
• Columbia, South Carolina
• Columbus, Georgia
• Daytona Beach, Florida
• Dothan, Alabama
• Fort Myers, Florida
• Fort Walton Beach, Florida
• Gainesville, Florida
• Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
• Jacksonville, Florida
• Key West, Florida
• Mobile, Alabama
• Orlando, Florida
• Panama City, Florida
• Pensacola, Florida
• Sarasota, Florida
• Savannah, Georgia
• Tallahassee, Florida
• Tampa, Florida
• Valdosta, Georgia

Southwest Airlines says the following airports may have flights canceled or delayed through Friday. Customers can rebook or travel standby within 14 days of the original travel date without having to pay extra fees:

• Atlanta
• Charleston, South Carolina
• Charlotte, North Carolina
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
• Greenville/Spartanburg, South Carolina
• Miami, Florida
• Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
• Nashville, Tennessee
• Savannah, Georgia
• West Palm Beach, Florida

RELATED STORIES:

• Hurricane Helene updates: Storm strengthens into Category 2 hurricane, still strengthening
• Hurricane Helene: List of school closings, after-school activities canceled in north Georgia
• Hurricane Helene Cities, counties announce closures of government facilities across metro Atlanta
• Hurricane Helene: Grady Memorial Hospital rescheduling elective procedures

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