Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines has canceled hundreds of flights over Memorial Day weekend as bad weather and staffing issues stretched the carrier’s resources thin.
When storms hit the Northeast on Saturday, Delta canceled more than 240 flights, including more than 100 departures and arrivals at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Some cancellations continued on Sunday with more than 160 Delta cancellations, including 77 at the Atlanta airport.
On Monday, more than 120 Delta flights were canceled, including upwards of 45 at Hartsfield-Jackson.
Tuesday will be another busy day for travel, with more than 285,000 passengers expected to pass through the Atlanta airport. A handful of Atlanta flights have already been canceled for Tuesday.
Delta had the most flight cancellations of any U.S. airline over the holiday weekend, after warning late last week of disruptions over the period as it deals with staffing issues, weather and an increase in COVID-19 cases among its employees. The airline also warned that it would cut some flights from its schedule through much of the summer due to short-staffing and other issues.
The rebound in travel in recent months has strained airlines and airports.
Long security lines stretched through the Atlanta airport terminal during busy periods, with airport officials advising passengers to get to the airport at least two-and-a-half hours before their flights.
For those driving back from Memorial Day weekend trips, Georgia gas prices averaged $4.13 a gallon on Monday for regular unleaded, according to AAA. That’s down a penny from a week ago, the auto club said. It still costs an average of $61.95 to fill a 15-gallon tank of regular gasoline.
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