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Columbia flights impacted by massive power outage at Atlanta airport

Passenger travel in 2016 was once again up at Columbia Metropolitan Airport. There will some ongoing improvements to the terminal and the runway in 2017. The facelift will include new kiosks and airline counters, flight displays, PA system, carpet, lighting and a large information station in the center of the Grand Hall.
Passenger travel in 2016 was once again up at Columbia Metropolitan Airport. There will some ongoing improvements to the terminal and the runway in 2017. The facelift will include new kiosks and airline counters, flight displays, PA system, carpet, lighting and a large information station in the center of the Grand Hall. tdominick@thestate.com

A massive power outage at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has wreaked havoc with travel plans. That’s what happens when the nation’s busiest airport is thrown off schedule.

Travelers coming to Columbia, or making connections at Columbia Metropolitan Airport were not spared from the cancellations.

As of 7 p.m. Sunday, seven flights scheduled to land in Columbia had been canceled. Six of them were originating from Atlanta.

All six were Delta Airlines flights, not surprising that Delta’s hub is at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Additionally, seven flights scheduled to depart from Columbia Metropolitan Airport Sunday and Monday have been canceled.

While many flights have been canceled, there is optimism. At least for Monday. As was the case with arrivals, six of the seven departures were Delta flights.

Another Delta flight is listed as delayed on the flight information page for Columbia Metropolitan Airport.

Two Delta flights from Atlanta, slated to arrive in Columbia at 9:27 a.m and 11:40 a.m. currently remain on schedule. Those flights could arrive on time because Georgia Power says that it expects power to be restored at Hartsfield-Jackson by midnight, The Associated Press reported.

Columbia Metropolitan Airport retweeted a message from Delta offering travelers “a one-time change to your travel plans without penalty.” It is only for customers traveling through Atlanta Sunday and Monday. Travlers can find information and make changes to their itinerary on Delta.com.

In a news release, Georgia Power said “the issue may have involved a fire which caused extensive damage in a Georgia Power underground electrical facility.” The cause of the fire was not known, the statement says, but it impacted underground facilities and substations serving the airport.

This story was originally published December 17, 2017 at 8:11 PM with the headline "Columbia flights impacted by massive power outage at Atlanta airport."

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