Officials at Denver International Airport are warning passengers that they might spend a little extra time on the ground today because of weather conditions at the airport. The snow will be tapering off today – but DIA spokesperson Laura Coale says it did cause some problems.
“We did see some flight cancellations last night and today – approximately 100 flight cancellations. And most of those were regional flights, for instance, small aircraft to Denver from the mountains or from rural areas”
Coale says any delays this afternoon will come from de-icing planes before take-off. This is one of the busiest travel weeks for DIA. 174,000 travelers alone are expected to pass through the airport on Friday. DIA is estimating that one-million passengers will have used the facility between December 20th and 26th.
A few travel tips for the season:
Allow extra time:
- A good rule of thumb is to be inside the airport two hours prior to your flight departure time. This should allow for plenty of time to navigate flight check-in, security lines and travel to your gate.
Before leaving the house:
- Check with your airline to confirm that your flight is on time.
- Check in online if possible.
- Get flight status information, road conditions, parking lot availability, security wait times, airport maps, ground transportation and more at www.flydenver.com.
Getting through security checkpoints smoothly:
- Travelers are allowed to bring one carry-on bag and one personal item (purse, laptop, etc.) through security. Put medications and other required items in your carry-on bag.
- The Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) restrictions on taking liquids and gels through security remain in place. For more information on security screening and smart packing tips, visit www.TSA.gov.
- Leave holiday gifts unwrapped; TSA may open wrapped packages to check the contents.
Picking up loved ones at the airport:
- Check with your friend or family member’s airline, or visit www.flydenver.com, to confirm that the flight is on time before leaving for the airport.
- Curbside parking at Jeppesen Terminal is prohibited and the 45-minute waiting area on inbound Peña Boulevard is generally full. Avoid the congestion on the passenger arrival level by parking in the East and West Terminal Garages for just $2/hour. With nearly 15,000 combined parking spaces, the garages provide convenient access to the terminal and are generally wide open during the holiday travel season.
- Parking or stopping along any airport roadway is illegal and dangerous and violators are subject to ticketing.
