Hartsfield-Jackson expects Monday morning rush

A mix of fog, rain and cloudy skies delayed many flights at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport throughout the day Sunday, trying patience during one of the busiest travel days of the year.

The Federal Aviation Administration reported arrival delays of up to 1 hour 46 minutes for some flights Sunday evening due to low visibility in Atlanta and other cities. Departure delays ranged from 10 to about 45 minutes, depending on the destination, according to the FAA.

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Joey Ivansco/jivansco@ajc.com

Rainy weather greeted those coming and going at Hartsfield -Jackson International Airport Sunday

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Joey Ivansco/jivansco@ajc.com

Pam Varady, waits for baggage with her daughter, Stephanie Varady (not pictured) at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport Sunday.

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Joey Ivansco/Staff

Heather DeVoogh and Robert Golas say goodbye outside the security checkpoint Sunday.

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Meanwhile, those heading back to metro Atlanta on the ground can expect wintry conditions north of the city.

North Georgia could see its first snowfall of the season overnight, with up to an inch possible in the mountains, according to the National Weather Service. No accumulation is expected in the metro area.

The forecast for Atlanta calls for showers ending Monday, with daytime highs in the mid-40s and nighttime lows around 30 degrees through Tuesday night. Highs in the 50s are expected later in the week, but so is the possibility of more rain.

Back at Hartsfield-Jackson, Adrian Ortlieb’s flight arrived in Atlanta 90 minutes late from Zurich, where he was returning from a trip to see his family in Germany. He missed his connecting flight to Lafayette, La.

All other flights to that city were booked, so the 25-year-old ended up reserving a later departure to Baton Rouge. He rented a car there and will drive home to Lafayette, a distance of more than 50 miles, late Sunday night.

“It happens all the time,” said Ortlieb as he munched on a calamari salad at an airport restaurant. “There’s no point getting upset about it.”

More than a quarter-million people are expected to pass through Atlanta’s airport, making the Sunday after Thanksgiving the busiest travel day of the year. However, the busiest single period of the holiday weekend will occur between 7 and 11 a.m. Monday, said Hartsfield-Jackson spokesman John Kennedy.

What’s more, snowy conditions across the Midwest and East Coast could lead to significant delays Monday for air travelers.

The good news? The wait at security lines was less than 10 minutes through the day Sunday. Seven recently added security screening lanes seemed to make a big difference at Hartsfield-Jackson.

“We’ve been very busy, but it’s remarkable how everything is just flowing smoothly,” airport spokesman John Kennedy said Sunday afternoon.

Dan Hanscom, 18, chilled out Sunday evening with an Army buddy, Ray Wilson, 23, in soft chairs in the airport atrium. They were waiting for another pair of friends — one driving in from Florida, the other, on a flight from Washington, D.C., that was already two hours late.

“If we move, we lose our seats,” said Wilson, taking the delay in stride.

Airport officials urged travelers to do their homework — checking flight status, security waits and available parking — before coming to the airport. Travelers can access this information on the airport Web site, www.atlanta-airport.com.

Kennedy encouraged those picking up or dropping off travelers to use hourly parking. Those who park curb side or leave their cars unattended could be ticketed or towed, he said.

The AAA auto club has predicted 41 million Americans would travel more than 50 miles for the holiday, down about 1.5 percent from last Thanksgiving. Flying was expected to be down about 7 percent.

— Staff reporters Laura Diamond and Eric Stirgus contributed to this report.