DEL.ICIO.USUpdated: 10:44 p.m. November 25, 2008
4-hour outage snarls traffic at Hartsfield-Jackson
Nearby highways, parking decks affected
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
A widespread power outage that affected traffic in and out of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport Tuesday night was repaired shortly after 10 p.m. tonight.
The four-hour blackout resulted in major traffic backups on the surrounding highways and access roads, apparently causing many holiday travelers to miss their flights.
The outage shut down entrances to the North and South parking decks, causing massive tie-ups.
“You have to assume most of the people who came in [during the outage] missed their flights,” airport spokesman John Kennedy said.
With the Thanksgiving holiday approaching, airport traffic was much heavier than typical for a weeknight. About 1.5 million people are expected to fly out of Hartsfield over the Thanksgiving holiday period.
AirTran Airways had two banks of 30 flights scheduled to depart at 8 p.m. and again at 10 p.m. Although the airline held the flights about a half-hour to accommodate many late arrivals about 30 passengers failed to make their flights, according to Tad Hutcheson, vice president of marketing for AirTran. Arrangements were being made to take them on flights leaving Wednesday.
A spokesman for Delta Airlines said they had no reports of passengers missing flights.
The outages were reported about 6:15 p.m. Georgia Power officials believe a faulty underground cable was to blame, said spokesman John Kraft.
Because of the holdover traffic from the afternoon rush hour, repair teams were delayed in responding to the problem, Kraft said.
Have you been affected by the outage? On Twitter? Use #atlfly to tell us.
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Comments
By amy
Nov 26, 2008 9:15 PM | Link to this
i know atlanta traffic sucks, but this is ridiculous. i hate atlanta
By amy
Nov 26, 2008 9:14 PM | Link to this
i know atlanta sucks, but this is ridiculous
By c bonds
Nov 26, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this
A NIGHTMARE!!! Went to the airport to pick up my wife. I panic a little but she got on MARTA and I met her at the College Park station
By Creste
Nov 26, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this
HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!
I'm glad the power went out. You people got what you deserve. I hope it ruined your holiday.
**** all of you.
By Colin
Nov 26, 2008 10:07 AM | Link to this
It simply amazes me that fundamental operation of the airport is allowed to be so fragile. The extent to which something as simple as a lift gate losing power can almost completely block access to our only airport is a cry for more capable hands to be in charge. The lack of contingency is shameful.
By phyllis
Nov 26, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this
We were in that mess last night.... What a nightmare. There had to be tons of people missing flights. Took an hour to get from ramp to baggage claim. Felt sorry for the ones who thought they could park at the airport for their flights....even the buses couldn't get in....when we left at 10...interstate ramp appeared to be shutdown....and traffic backed up on 85south
By C ONeil
Nov 26, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this
I can't believe the airlines would charge these poor people who in good faith left their homes or hotels in plenty of time to catch a flight-probably even calculating extra time b/c of holiday snarls and had NO way of knowing the airport would be like "the fall of Saigon". Delta and other airlines ARE part of the airport operations. It's not like blaming it on the weather. I went to pick up my teenage son and would have asked him to ride MARTA, but don't feel it's safe for a kid alone at night! Another city problem. By the way, it took exactly 45 minutes to get to North Terminal baggage claim AFTER turning off on the airport exit. It usually takes me less than 45 minutes to get airport parking from my home in Buckhead! Again, another example that there is emergency preparedness is dangerously lacking in Atlanta.
By Bob H
Nov 26, 2008 8:35 AM | Link to this
We were picking up our daughter. We saw the traffic mess, called her and told her to jump on MARTA and meet us at the Lenox station. Worked like a charm. I didn't know what the problem was but I knew the only way in our out of there was going to be on MARTA.
By Ms.DitchDoc
Nov 26, 2008 3:43 AM | Link to this
DING..." Ladies and Gentelmen: We are on our final approah to Atlanta. Atlanta's current tempature is 45 degress, dry and windy. If you will look out either side of the plane you will notice lanes of lights. These are not runways, but lines of traffic. Hope enjoy your stay in (traffic) Atlanta. Make sure you stop by the gift shop and get a snack and the necessities for your trip home. Thank you again for flying"
By ThePlan
Nov 26, 2008 12:25 AM | Link to this
Why aren't the airport parking systems on any sort of backup? Ridiculous.
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