Long waits greet fliers as they return to Hartsfield-Jackson

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Long waits greet fliers as they return to Hartsfield-Jackson

Thousands of passengers formed long lines to clear security at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport Thursday afternoon, as flights resumed after massive cancellations this week prompted by the ice storm.

Travelers wait to go through the main security checkpoint at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport Thursday afternoon. At 3:45 p.m., wait times were listed as 1 hour, as the line snaked through the atrium and out into the baggage claim area.

A woman carries her suitcase through the snow at Hartsfield-Jackson airport in Atlanta on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014 when operations resumed after the effects of a major winter storm halted flights for three days. In Atlanta, roads started to thaw out as temperatures start to rise Thursday, February 13, 2014.

Travelers wait to go through the main security checkpoint at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport Thursday afternoon. Lines subsided after 5 p.m., but earlier in the day stretched from the main checkpoint through the airport atrium and back to baggage claim areas, weaving around baggage carousels. This photo was taken at 3:45 p.m.

Travelers wait to go through the main security checkpoint at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport Thursday afternoon. Both Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines had said they planned to rebuild toward normal schedules Thursday afternoon after two days of minimal operations.

Travelers wait to go through the main security checkpoint at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport Thursday afternoon. The influx of passengers trying to get out of town or resume business travel appeared to catch the airport and the Transportation Security Administration off guard.

Travelers wait to go through the main security checkpoint at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport Thursday. A TSA spokesman said many of its workers reported having trouble getting to the airport or could not immediately return to work due to issues such as child care while schools were still out.

FEBRUARY 13, 2014 ATLANTA Travelers wait to go through the main security checkpoint at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport Thursday afternoon. TSA did say it was bringing in workers from cargo screening, administration and other areas to help in the meantime.

Atlanta travelers wait to go through the main security checkpoint at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport Thursday afternoon. TSA spokesman Mark Howell said travelers should check security wait times on the airport’s website. He said the agency planned to add staffing going into the weekend.

The TSA says it's investigating whether the agency made mistakes or if it was Delta's fault.

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Travelers wait to go through the main security checkpoint at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport Thursday afternoon. At 3:45 p.m., wait times were listed as 1 hour, as the line snaked through the atrium and out into the baggage claim area.

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