Bad Weather and Long TSA Security Waits Hit Spring Break Travel

Bad weather and the continued government shutdown are starting to really impact the start of spring break travel across the U.S. this week.

A handful of major U.S. hubs were reporting above-normal cancellations on Monday, and long wait times at security for those who didn’t have their flights canceled. While the bad weather is passing, flight schedules aren’t back on track just yet.

Those elevated wait times could also persist as Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers continue to show up without pay in the midst of a seemingly endless partial government shutdown, as wait times got as bad as 180 minutes over the weekend.

The longer the shutdown goes, the more problems are showing up as an increasing number of workers call out. According to the Department of Homeland Security, Houston Hobby International Airport (HOU) had a 55% callout rate Saturday, the highest of any airport since funding lapsed last month.

While things are looking better on the weather front Tuesday morning, travelers should still be prepared to pack their patience if they are headed off. Here is the latest:

Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

Atlanta passengers were greeted with a perfect storm on Tuesday, as severe weather, combined with mounting security delays, created a nightmare for travelers.

According to FlightAware, more than 300 departures out of Atlanta were canceled on Tuesday following a storm system that triggered FAA ground stops on Monday. While the immediate travel outlook is difficult, the weather is expected to improve, with temperatures forecasted to reach above 75°F by Saturday.

However, security challenges remain. TSA wait times reached 127 minutes at the airport’s main checkpoint on Tuesday morning, fueled by staffing shortages during the ongoing government shutdown. Officials are recommending that all passengers arrive at least three hours ahead of their scheduled departures to avoid missing flights.

Charlotte Douglas

The busiest airport in the Carolinas was hit with a ground stop from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Monday because of severe thunderstorms that caused flight delays and cancellations to pile up.

According to FlightAware, 25% of all flights from the airport on Monday were canceled, and another 40% were delayed, amounting to hundreds of flights.

The good news is that things are back on track on Tuesday, with cancellations and delays back to a normal level as of 8 a.m. Wait times at security checkpoints also remain low, at less than 10 minutes.

Chicago O’Hare

Chicago O’Hare (ORD) recorded over 1,000 cancellations Monday—the highest single-day count of the current spring break season—as Winter Storm Iona brought blizzard conditions to the Midwest. While some runways have reopened, officials are expecting carryover on Tuesday.

Wait times at security at O’Hare on Tuesday morning are average around 20 minutes.

Florida Airports

The weather issues extended deep into Florida, where Orlando (MCO) and Tampa (TPA) are struggling with a mix of severe thunderstorms, a carryover from Winter Storm Iona, and heavy spring break traffic. In Orlando, some travelers reported spending the night on terminal floors after a string of late-night cancellations on Monday.

According to FlightAware, cancellations are starting to pile up Tuesday at Orlando, Tampa, and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL). The highest is in Tampa with 10% of all Tuesday departures cancelled.