It was a frustrating and confusing scene at Denver International Airport this past weekend as thick fog rolled in and caused major flight disruptions. Travelers arriving early to beat the rush ended up stuck for hours, while others spent the day anxiously watching the flight boards light up with delays and cancellations.
Fog Brings Operations to a Standstill
The trouble started Friday morning when visibility around the airport dropped dramatically. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responded by issuing a temporary ground stop, halting departures and forcing arriving planes to circle or reroute. While the fog began to lift later in the morning, delays continued to stack up throughout the day. By Friday evening, more than 600 flights were delayed, and a dozen were canceled altogether.
On Saturday, the situation didn’t get any better. In fact, it worsened. The fog lingered, and light snow started falling, creating even more challenges. According to FlightAware, nearly 640 flights were delayed, and over 40 flights were canceled by late afternoon. Airlines with large operations at DIA, like Southwest, United, and SkyWest, were hit the hardest.
Frustration for Passengers
Travelers shared stories of waiting on the tarmac, missing connecting flights, and scrambling to rebook trips. Some families were stuck overnight or forced to find last-minute hotel accommodations. Others were caught in the airport with limited information and growing lines at customer service desks.
“I got to the airport early thinking I’d beat the weather, but I ended up sitting here all day,” said Susan Marks, a traveler trying to get to Chicago. “The worst part was not knowing if my flight was going or not.”
Many passengers expressed similar frustrations about poor communication and lack of updates from airlines.
Why the Fog Was Such a Problem
Denver International Airport, one of the busiest in the country, is equipped to handle tough weather, but dense fog still poses serious challenges. It limits visibility for pilots and air traffic controllers, making takeoffs and landings more dangerous. To keep passengers and crews safe, flights are often delayed until conditions improve.
On top of that, cold temperatures on Saturday meant planes also needed to be deiced before departure. That extra step added even more delays to an already backed-up schedule.
Airport and Airline Response
Airport crews were out in full force over the weekend, managing snow removal, coordinating deicing, and helping passengers with rebookings. Airlines brought in additional staff to try and handle the flood of affected travelers. Still, the volume of delays overwhelmed normal operations.
Denver airport officials reminded travelers to check their flight status regularly before heading to the airport and to prepare for possible wait times when bad weather hits.
Is Relief in Sight?
Forecasters say the weather is expected to improve through the week, which should help DIA return to more regular operations. Still, some ripple effects from the weekend delays may continue as airlines work to reposition aircraft and accommodate passengers who were stranded or missed their connections.
For now, the advice remains the same: keep an eye on your flight, stay in contact with your airline, and be ready for plans to change.
