Akron-Canton Airport Stays open in Snow
Okay folks, winter snow hits Northeast Ohio every year. I will admit that it was late this year, falling hard in February rather than December or January. What amazed me a bit during the snow storm last week though was the number of media outlets that reported that the airport was closed.
For the record, we don’t close due to snow…ever. Even the worst snows in the 1980s (before global warming and all) didn’t shut down our runways. Now, airlines may choose not to fly in bad weather, but if they do want to fly, they can land here.
Our field maintenance department has been battling the snow drifts for sixty years. Our crew has been awarded high honors for our ability to wage war with winter; so needless to say, we are open even when it snows. Believe it or not, fog is a more difficult weather element to battle because it can't be blowed, brushed, broomed or blown away.
Last week, Delta Air Lines preemptively canceled flights to/ from lots of cities including CAK and I think they did a great job of informing passengers and getting them re-accommodated. AirTran, US Airways and Northwest operated most of their flights during the two days of heavy snow. Our plow drivers stayed ahead if it, which is commendable, often working around the clock to keep our runways open.
Kudos CAK snow crew for keeping our airfield open and safe for our passengers!
