2nd Day of Dense Fog Delays Atlanta Flights

ATLANTA — Thick fog settled on Atlanta for a second consecutive day today, delaying the flights of thousands of travelers as much as two hours. Weather forecasters warned it could return Tuesday.

About 200 flights were delayed or canceled before the fog lifted around 10 a.m., allowing virtually all scheduled airlines to take off and land at Hartsfield International Airport, the nation’s second busiest air hub, officials said.

But for two hours during the morning, only Category 3 jetliners--the biggest and most sophisticated--could land at the airport.

Smaller lines canceled most of their early flights and shuffled their passengers to flights operated by the major airlines, authorities said.

The fog today cut visibility to 700 feet but did not come close to matching the problems Sunday, when it delayed flights for about 70,000 people and left thousands stranded overnight. Authorities said when a hub the size of Atlanta is socked in, it creates a ripple effect all over the nation. Flights bound for Atlanta are held on the ground at their departure point rather than being sent on to circle over Georgia.

Some travelers spent the night at the airport on makeshift beds of coats and newspapers, and others went to nearby hotels. Many of them caught early planes but some were still trying to get out of the Atlanta airport at noon.