The airport that serves the central Oregon cities of Redmond and Bend is still closed to commercial airline flights following Monday’s snowstorm. Officials say they don’t expect the Redmond Airport to open before 9 a.m. on Wednesday. That’s because the snow damaged a device that helps pilots land during challenging weather conditions. The navigational aide is owned by the Federal Aviation Administration, which is working to repair it.
According to the websiteflightaware.com, which tracks commercial airline flights, the last flight to arrive or depart from Redmond was an American Airlines flight from Phoenix that arrived just before 11 p.m. on Sunday. According to the airport’s website, about two dozen flights on four airlines are scheduled to arrive or depart on a normal day.
Nicole Jurgenson, Redmond Airport security manager, says the airport terminal is a fairly quiet place right now. “It’s not designed for staying (overnight) at, so most people are finding accommodations or just going back home until their flight’s rescheduled,” she said.
Jurgenson says even when the airport re-opens, flights may still be delayed or canceled due to ongoing weather conditions. She urges passengers to check with their airline before heading out to the airport. Central Oregon is bracing for another round of wintry weather, with a Winter Storm Warning in effect for potentially five to ten inches of snow between now and Thursday morning, on top of what's already fallen.
Officials at the Eugene Airport say the facility is operating normally, but urge travelers to use caution as roads to and from the airport may still be covered with snow and ice.
