DENVER (CBS4) – After closing all runways and then eventually ceasing all operations for the day during the blizzard on Sunday, Denver International Airport reopened some of the runways about 2 o’clock Monday afternoon. DIA said that arrives and departures were underway just after 2 p.m.
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DIA reopened 4 of the 6 runways on Monday afternoon. The airport is in “recovery mode” and delays and cancellations are possible tonight and Tuesday as airlines begin to recover their operations. Passengers are encouraged to continue to stay in touch with their airline for scheduled flight information.
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We've got departures too!
— Denver Int'l Airport (@DENAirport) March 15, 2021
More than 200 plows worked nonstop to clear the runways of snow to make it safe for flights to land and take off once again. Reopening four of the airport’s six runways was enough to meet demand following a number of flight cancellations, according to DIA t spokesperson Emily Williams.
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All runways will remain closed until 2 p.m. today – no flights will arrive or depart before that time while crews continue to treat the airfield for ice and snow. If you’re scheduled to fly into or out of DEN today, check your flight status with your airline pic.twitter.com/I5z4Kt9jii
— Denver Int'l Airport (@DENAirport) March 15, 2021
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Earlier in the day, DIA had attempted an earlier opening of the runways, possibly 10 a.m. but that wasn’t possible with the amount of snowfall received at the airport.
DIA officially measured 27.1 inches of snow by 5 a.m. Monday.
Cars stuck on Peña Boulevard on Sunday afternoon. (credit: CBS)
More than 2,000 flights were canceled at DIA over the weekend, with dozens more delays. Delays and cancellations are still expected Monday as airlines try to catch up from the weekend.
RTD’s A Line with rail service between Union Station and the airport shut down operations at 7 p.m. Sunday, and the airport remained open for passengers and employees who are there. CBS4’s Shawn Chitnis reported that hundreds of travelers spent the night inside the airport.
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Jennifer McRae
