CINCINNATI — With extreme winter weather overwhelming much of Ohio this weekend, many holiday air travelers have one major question: Is my flight going to be canceled?
What You Need To Know
- A winter storm system is overwhelming airports across Ohio
- Strong winds, frigid weather and snow have led to the cancellation of many flights
- Airport leaders advise travelers to check with their airline prior to heading to the airport
- The storm could last through Sunday
A storm system moved into Ohio overnight on Thursday, dropping several inches of snow and temperatures below zero in areas across the state.
Beyond Ohio, the storm is affecting major swaths of the United States. The system is expected to last until Sunday.
The biggest worries are the bitter cold, ice and high-wind gusts, which are causing dangerous travel conditions leading into the holiday weekend, according to the Spectrum News Ohio weather team.
In response to the intense conditions, the operators of Ohio’s largest airports are advising travelers to exercise caution, and perhaps a little bit of patience, before heading to the airport.
“We’re open and operational,” said Mindy Kershner, spokesperson for Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) in Hebron, Ky.
The winter operations team at the Cincinnati-area airport began working before the start of the storm by pre-treating roadways and runways. They’ve been working since the first snowfall to keep those areas clear and de-icing them.
Kershner noted that there are flights taking off and landing at the airport, which she called a credit to the winter operations teams, baggage handlers and staff from the individual airlines.
Despite their best efforts, she said, there’ve been a number of flight cancellations, especially to areas in the north, like Boston and Chicago.
She advised all passengers to keep in touch with their airline — its website or mobile app — to get real time notifications on flight status and updates. They can also check the “departure” and “arrival” list on the CVG website.
Representatives from John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) and Rickenbacker International Airport (LCK) check their flight status before heading to the airport. They provided a link for contacting airlines about questions about their flight’s status, including delays and cancellations.
Linda Hughes, who handles public relations for Dayton International Airport (DAY), said the winter weather is affecting the entire country. Even if a traveler is heading to or coming from somewhere out of the path of the, the airplane they’re scheduled to take may be stuck in a part of the country that’s in the middle of it.
Several trips set to arrive at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) from Cleveland are canceled, for example.
“I’ve never seen a storm like this,” Hughes said. “It’s definitely not only the weather in Ohio, but also the weather wherever these aircraft are originating from. This is something affecting flights and airplanes across the nation.”
John Goersmeyer, senior media and communications specialist for the Cleveland airport, expected the situation to intensify, at least in the northeastern part of the state, Friday afternoon.
He noted the possibility of wind gusts of up to 65 mph and blowing snow as being major issues. Any new snow accumulation would only make things worse, he added.
Right now, decisions about flight delays and cancellations in Cincinnati, Columbus Cleveland and Dayton are up to the individual airlines, Goersmeyer said. The airports themselves remain open.
The expectation is for the airports to remain open, he said, stressing that the situation would only change if crews became unable to maintain the runways safely.
“Safety is something that we will not risk,” Goersmeyer added. “If we can’t keep the runways clear and it’s not safe to land a plane, then we close the airport.”
Given the situation, Goersmeyer advised travelers to come up with “alternative plans,” if possible. That may mean looking for another airline or finding a trip to another location and renting a car, he said.
Some travelers may need to settle for finding a hotel and waiting out the storm, Goersmeyer said.
Cleveland and other airports have a list of nearby hotels, restaurants and other amenities on their websites.
Hughes tells passengers they need to pack their “patience” with them anytime they want to travel because when Mother Nature is involved, they lose all control over the situation. As inconvenient as it may feel, they have to put safety first, Hughes said.
“In all of aviation, the very first thing that has to be considered is safety,” she said. “The airlines, the airports, we’re never going to put someone in an unsafe situation.”