Passengers continue experiencing longer wait times at Hartsfield-Jackson TSA

ATLANTA — Passengers at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport are continuing to experience significant travel delays on Monday morning, with long lines at TSA checkpoints.  

According to the airport, travelers can expect longer-than-normal wait times at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security checkpoints due to staffing constraints. Hartsfield-Jackson officials said one reason for the shortage is the partial government shutdown.

11Alive’s Joe Ripley reported that TSA wait times reached 90 minutes. At one point, the lines snaked around the baggage claim carousels. Some frequent travelers said they had never seen that. 

Traveler Tom Leigh saw the lines and decided he would fly another day.  

“It’s a mess. I’ve never in my life seen anything approaching this level of carnage,” said Leigh. “There are thousands of people in the queue to get to your gate … it seems like an impossible task. This is madness.”

By 11 a.m., wait times were improving but still hovering around 30 minutes. 

TSA officials said hundreds of TSA officers have quit or called out after reports that workers only received half a paycheck two weeks ago. On Saturday, TSA posted on its X account, “Enough is enough.” 

RELATED: TSA warns of longer airport security lines as shutdown drags on

Hartsfield-Jackson also attributed the longer wait times to severe weather and is encouraging travelers to arrive at least 3 hours before their flights. 

“Travelers are encouraged to allow extra time for security screening and arrive at least three hours ahead of their flights. We appreciate your patience and thank our federal and airport personnel for their continued service.”

The airport also posted that it is aware that the TSA security wait time feature on its website is currently unavailable. Officials said this is due to a technical issue and their team is working to restore services.