Delta Air Lines has canceled 900 flights as Irma, now a tropical storm, nears Atlanta.
Southwest Airlines, the second-largest carrier at Hartsfield-Jackson, canceled all of its Atlanta flights after 1 p.m., amounting to 60 to 70 percent of its Atlanta flights scheduled for Monday.
Atlanta-based Delta said the expected north-south winds of 40 mph or greater will run perpendicular to the five parallel runways at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, which can potentially threaten the safety of landings.
Planes are best suited to takeoff and land into the wind, according to the airline. The strong crosswinds are expected to exceed the operating limits of some of Delta’s mainline and regional jets.
The 900 Delta cancellations include a portion of the airline’s flights at its massive hub in Atlanta, as well as continuing cancellations in Florida and the Caribbean.
Even more flights could be canceled due to wind shear, lightning and other weather.
Delta operates the world’s largest airline hub at Hartsfield-Jackson, and flight cancellations can disrupt travel plans of tens of thousands of people from around the country and the world.
The airline recommended that those scheduled to connect through Atlanta on Monday change their flight schedules on delta.com.
Those with flights booked for Monday should check their flight status before heading to the airport. Delta and Southwest are both waiving certain charges for travelers who want to alter their travel plans that could be affected by Irma.
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AJC Business reporter Kelly Yamanouchi keeps you updated on the latest news about Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Delta Air Lines and the airline industry in metro Atlanta and beyond. You'll find more on myAJC.com, including these stories:
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