Sunday, June 15, 2025
With over 300 delays and cancellations caused by severe thunderstorms, Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport descended into travel chaos Sunday as lightning threats, low cloud cover, and poor visibility brought flight operations to a crawl, severely disrupting schedules for Delta, Air Canada, Frontier, WestJet, Southwest, and more airlines across the US. As the storm system intensified throughout the afternoon and evening, arriving and departing aircraft faced extended ground stops, missed connections, and widespread rerouting, creating ripple effects felt in airports nationwide. Passengers were stranded, rebookings surged, and crews were displaced, compounding the chaos at the world’s busiest airport during one of the busiest travel weekends of the summer.
The majority of the disruptions were linked to poor weather conditions, including thunderstorms and low cloud ceilings that gripped the Atlanta area throughout the day. The National Weather Service issued warnings citing poor visibility and storm activity in the region, contributing to air traffic slowdowns and temporary ground stops.
Delta and Frontier Face Major Operational Setbacks
Delta Air Lines, which operates its primary hub out of Hartsfield-Jackson, bore the brunt of the day’s delays and cancellations. A total of 195 Delta flights were delayed, representing 11% of its entire schedule, while 31 flights were cancelled, amounting to about 1% of its daily operations.
Frontier Airlines, another key player, saw 14 delayed flights, which made up 11% of its services for the day. Additionally, 9 Frontier flights were cancelled, a much larger hit proportionally, marking 7% of its total schedule.
Endeavor Air, a regional affiliate of Delta, also struggled to keep up, with 22 flights delayed and one cancelled. Though smaller carriers like Key Lime Air, JetBlue, Mesa Airlines, and PSA Airlines operated fewer flights, each experienced delays as storms rolled in and visibility dropped sharply.
Canadian Carriers and Other Airlines Impacted
International operations were not spared. Air Canada experienced at least one delay, while WestJet, another Canadian airline, had two delayed flights—20% of its scheduled activity. Virgin Atlantic, operating long-haul services out of Atlanta, also faced delays on 50% of its scheduled departures for the day.
Southwest Airlines, another major U.S. carrier with frequent connections through Atlanta, reported 21 delays, impacting 17% of its operations. While none of its flights were officially cancelled, the ripple effects were felt across multiple states as passengers scrambled to rebook connections.
Spirit Airlines, SkyWest, United, and American Airlines were also caught in the storm-induced slowdown, registering multiple delays throughout the day. Though cancellations were limited among these carriers, the delays piled up as the afternoon progressed.
Thunderstorms Blamed as Primary Cause
According to the Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) issued by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Weather Service, the airport faced a high likelihood of thunderstorms and heavy rain between 8:00 PM and 1:00 AM UTC. Cloud cover dropped to 2,500 feet during the worst of the weather, significantly below safe thresholds for standard operations.
A forecasted 30% probability of thunderstorm rain (TSRA) was noted, with overcast skies and moderate winds from the west-northwest at speeds up to 13 km/h. Earlier in the day, low clouds and scattered cloud decks also contributed to deteriorating conditions, causing ripple effects throughout the U.S. airspace system.
Ripple Effects Across the Country
Given Hartsfield-Jackson’s position as a major national and international hub, delays in Atlanta tend to cause widespread disruptions throughout the U.S. travel network. With aircraft and crew misaligned, many connections at airports like New York LaGuardia, Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago O’Hare, and Orlando International were also impacted.
Travelers reported long wait times, last-minute gate changes, and rebookings, with many forced to overnight in Atlanta or wait for standby seats on later flights.
Over 300 delays and cancellations struck Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport as severe thunderstorms triggered widespread flight disruptions, grounding major carriers like Delta, Air Canada, Frontier, WestJet, and Southwest across the United States. The storm’s low visibility and lightning risks caused operational chaos, halting air traffic and stranding passengers nationwide.
What to Expect Next
While weather conditions are expected to gradually improve overnight, lingering delays may continue into Monday morning. Forecasts show scattered clouds early Monday with improved visibility and lighter winds. However, more low cloud layers are expected to return around mid-morning, potentially complicating the recovery of flight schedules.
Passengers flying into or out of Atlanta over the next 24 hours are urged to check their flight status frequently, allow extra time for airport processing, and consider flexible rebooking options offered by airlines during weather disruptions.
As of now, over 323 total flight operations—delays and cancellations—have been confirmed, making this one of the busiest and most disrupted travel days of the month for Atlanta.
