The Federal Aviation Administration lifted the ground stop at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on September 11, 2026, replacing it with a ground delay program scheduled from 6 p.m. to 9:59 p.m. Flights arriving into Atlanta are delayed by an average of 107 minutes, with some delays reaching up to 271 minutes. Departing flights are experiencing average delays of 75 minutes, which are continuing to increase.
Thunderstorms and Ground Stop Initiate Disruptions
Multiple ground stops began at 12:08 p.m. on September 11 due to thunderstorms and heavy rain impacting metro Atlanta and North Georgia. The weather conditions caused several interruptions, prompting the FAA to restrict flights in
and around the area. The ground delay program targets flights departing airports within 1,000 nautical miles of Atlanta by adjusting departure times to manage arrival rates at the airport.
Arrivals and Departures Experience Significant Delays
Flight congestion at Hartsfield-Jackson persists despite the end of the ground stop. Passengers face lengthy delays for both arriving and departing flights, with average arrival delays around 107 minutes and departures delayed by approximately 75 minutes, extending into the evening hours. The storm-related disruptions have caused airline operations to run behind schedule across the airport.
The CBS News Atlanta NEXT Weather team monitored heavy thunderstorms and downpours throughout the day on
September 11, which contributed to the FAA’s operational decisions including the ground stops and delay programs designed to control traffic into and out of Atlanta.
