The Federal Aviation Administration lifted the ground stop at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) on September 11, 2026, but replaced it with a ground delay program that ran from 6 p.m. to 9:59 p.m. Flights arriving under this program were delayed on average by 107 minutes, with the longest delay reaching 271 minutes. Departing flights from ATL experienced average delays of 75 minutes, with delays increasing as the evening progressed.
Several ground stops were issued on September 11, beginning at 12:08 p.m., in response to thunderstorms moving across metro Atlanta and North Georgia. These weather conditions triggered disruptions that impacted
airport operations throughout the day.
Scope and Passenger Impact
The ground delay program affected flights departing airports within 1,000 nautical miles of Atlanta. Revised departure times were issued to manage the volume of incoming flights and reduce congestion at ATL. Passengers flying to or from Atlanta faced significant delays, with arrivals delayed nearly two hours on average and departures delayed over an hour.
Weather Disruptions Cause Delays
Thunderstorms and heavy rainfall driving the operational disruptions raised the risks of localized flooding across metro Atlanta and North Georgia. These conditions prompted multiple FAA ground stops and contributed to the slow recovery of airport traffic flow during the day.
