Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world’s busiest by passenger traffic, is grappling with widespread departure delays and cancellations today following a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) alert triggered by acute staffing shortages due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.

Atlanta Airport Sees Delays Amid Government Shutdown Staffing Crunch

The FAA issued the departure delay alert around 10:40 a.m. ET, citing insufficient air traffic controller staffing as the primary cause.

This comes as the shutdown, now in its fourth day, has furloughed thousands of non-essential federal workers, including hundreds of FAA personnel essential for managing the nation’s airspace.

As of mid-afternoon, Friday, Nov. 7, flights at ATL were experiencing average delays of 30 minutes, with more than 78 cancellations and 31 delays reported by 8 a.m. alone.

Despite the documented slowdowns across the nation’s airports, on Friday a social media account for Transportation Security Administration (TSA), said, “November 6th, TSA officers screened more than 2.7M people (+4.1% YoY). Average wait times were 4.72 minutes in standard lanes and 3.10 minutes in TSA PreCheck lanes.”

Nationwide, the ripple effects have led to over 815 flight cancellations, with the FAA mandating a 4% reduction in operations at major hubs like Atlanta to prioritize safety.

These cuts are expected to escalate: 6% by Monday, November 11; 8% by Wednesday, November 13; and up to 10% by the end of next week.

At Delta Air Lines, flight attendants did what they could to calm the frayed nerves of passengers.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy defended the measures in a statement Friday morning, calling them “proactive safety steps” to prevent more severe disruptions. “We’re not willing to risk lives or compromise the integrity of our airspace,” Duffy said during a press briefing. “This is the responsible path forward until Congress acts.”

Travelers at Hartsfield-Jackson expressed frustration amid the chaos.

“I’ve been here since 5 a.m., and my Delta flight to New York is now delayed three hours,” said Atlanta resident Mary Thompson, who was en route to a family wedding. “It’s infuriating—especially with the holidays coming up.”

Similar sentiments echoed across social media, with local station WSB-TV reporting real-time updates on the mounting backlog.

The shutdown stems from a partisan impasse in Congress over a spending bill, leaving federal agencies like the FAA operating on skeleton crews. Air traffic controllers, deemed essential, are working without pay, leading to fatigue and reduced capacity.

Experts warn that prolonged delays could cascade into tighter connections and longer wait times at security checkpoints, exacerbating the holiday travel crunch.

Delta Air Lines, which hubs at ATL and accounts for about 80% of the airport’s traffic, urged passengers to check flight statuses via its app.

“We apologize for the inconvenience and are working closely with the FAA to minimize impacts,” a spokesperson said in a statement. Other carriers, including American and Southwest, reported similar disruptions.

As of 4 p.m. ET, the FAA’s National Airspace System dashboard showed no ground stops at ATL but persistent delays rippling to connecting flights across the Southeast.

Aviation analysts predict the situation could worsen over the weekend if no resolution is reached, with some travelers opting for Amtrak or driving as alternatives.

Final Word

The FAA advises passengers to arrive at least three hours early for domestic flights and monitor updates through official channels.

Congress has scheduled emergency talks for Saturday, but optimism remains low amid escalating tensions.

This story will be updated as new developments emerge.