AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin-Bergstrom International Airport remained opened Tuesday as travelers faced delays and canceled flights due to overnight snow and ice. KXAN counted 89 delays, on top of 44 cancelations tracked by FlightAware.
“A lot of airlines that have a smaller presence here, that don’t have de-icing chemicals stored here on site, went ahead and proactively canceled,” said Sam Haynes, the deputy communications officer for the Austin airport.
Haynes said she expects to see more canceled and delayed flights Wednesday but hoped “everything will be right on track” by the weekend. She urged passengers to check their airlines for the latest departure times and flight information before heading to the airport.
“We definitely want folks to keep an eye on their flight status,” she said.
The airport has a “whole team of frontline staff” that will be “ready to go” with de-icing measures if needed ahead of more freezing temperatures expected Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, Haynes added.
“That’s definitely something that we’re going to be keeping an eye out for,” she said.
Weather impacting travel
By the time Arul Muthu arrived at the airport for a work trip to India, he already knew his flight would be delayed “a couple hours.”
“So, it’s not bad,” he said. “But, I hope it’s not canceled.”
The departure and arrival boards were lit up in yellow Tuesday afternoon, representing delayed flights. Most were minor but some, like a flight from Boston and another to Charlotte and Mexico City, ranged from between four and nearly six hours beh ind schedule.
“I was freaking out a lot of bit because, coming all the way from Charleston, it’s not like I could jump in the car and drive home,” said Statia Paschel, who flew from South Carolina to Austin.
Despite being worried about the weather, her flight arrived pretty much on time.
“I was really panicked,” she said, “but I was one of the lucky ones.”
For about five hours Tuesday, staff shortages led to the temporary suspension of trams used to take passengers from the terminal to the rental car facility and rideshare pick up areas, Haynes said.
“Please walk carefully to the terminal, as icy surfaces may exist,” the airport’s account warned on X before announcing the trams were once again “fully operational” after 2 p.m.
Haynes said the decision to suspend tram service was made in order to give priority to parking lot shuttles. KXAN watched as those buses, which take passengers from their cars to the terminal, appeared to run normally.
Outside, travelers made the most of the winter weather. Children were seen building a tiny snowman and having a mini snowball fight.
Some travelers, already used to colder weather, weren’t phased.
“It’s like 40 degrees warmer here than where I came from,” said Sarah Paine, who said her flight from Minneapolis was two hours delayed and mostly empty. “So, I’ve got my jacket in my arms instead of on my body.”
Houston airports closed
Across the country, 3,212 flights within, into, or out of the U.S. were delayed Tuesday afternoon, according to FlightAware, with 2,223 flights delayed.
In Houston, which saw heavy snow and ice, flight operations were suspended at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, William P. Hobby Airport and Ellington Airport at midnight due to “extremely hazardous road conditions.“
Airport officials said they were monitoring weather conditions to determine when it’s safe to reopen.
“While there are no departing or arriving flights, our dedicated teams remain on-site 24/7, working diligently to prepare for a swift and safe return to normal operation,” an airport alert read. “Houston Airports is deploying snowplows and heavy machinery to clear the airfield and prepare for a safe return to operations as soon as weather conditions allow.”
With the Bush and Hobby airports closed, more than 640 flights were canceled at some of the busiest airports in the state, according to FlightAware.
“We’ve had two flights to Houston canceled in the last 24 hours,” said Beth Anne Whalen, who had planned to fly from Florida to Houston.
Instead, she had to reroute her trip — flying from Ft. Myers to St. Louis to Austin — in hopes of still making it to Houston to attend a work conference. For now, she is waiting on several of her coworkers to also arrive in Austin.
“The biggest dilemma we have now is do we feel it’s safe enough to rent a car and drive to Houston?,” she asked. “Or, do we all stay here for one more night and see what tomorrow brings?”
