Airports Still Digging Out

While the weekend snowstorm made highways practically impassable, air travel at the area's airports was at a standstill.

Crews at Dulles Airport have been working around the clock since Friday to dig out from the 34.2 inches of snow recorded there, said Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority spokesman Rob Yingling. Many airlines announced Friday the cancellation of weekend flights and passengers took note, with few venturing out to the airport to wait for their next flight.

One runway at Dulles opened yesterday just after 7 a.m. and another opened late in the afternoon. As of Monday afternoon, the airport was continuing to operate with only two of its four runways, but Yingling said hopes were to have a third runway open shortly.

Over the weekend, only a select few passengers opted to stay in the airport's main terminal. Many of those at Dulles were "skeleton crews" of airport employees, including those working for airlines and businesses located at the airport. A crew of 250 was tasked with snow removal, Yingling said.

As the region prepares for another winter storm to hit Tuesday evening, Yingling said Dulles Airport staff members are continuing work to ensure that three runways will be open and that equipment will be ready to handle the additional eight to 12 inches of snow expected. Hopes are, Yingling said, to give crews some rest time between today and tomorrow for the hard work anticipated for Tuesday evening and Wednesday.

Elsewhere in Loudoun, Leesburg Executive Airport is closed indefinitely, according to a town press release.