DENVER -- It's wasn't the strongest snowstorm for being the first of the season, but it still packed quite a punch, especially for airline travelers at Denver International Airport.
Reports of several flights experiencing delays at DIA started popping up at around 6:30 p.m. Thursday, as a fast-moving storm which created rapidly dropping temperatures moved over the Denver metro area.
A United Airlines passenger told Denver7 in an email that a lack of deicing was delaying a lot of flights. He then sent the following photo to show just how many flights, mostly from United and Air Canada, were experiencing delays.
United Airlines would confirm at around 7:15 p.m. that they were having issues with deicing and what they called "equipment issues."
Some United flights are experiencing extended delays because of deicing and its vendor equipment issues. Please check your flight status
— Denver Int'l Airport (@DENAirport) November 18, 2016
Denver7 obtained a statement from United Airline officials which stated, in part, "Our team is working closely with our vendor to get the aircraft deiced and get our customers to their destinations. We apologize for any extra delays."
Despite the apology, customers were not happy.
Apparently @DENAirport has never encountered .25" of snow before. Passing two hours on the tarmac. @united @USDOT
— Geoff Wilmington (@vWilmo) November 18, 2016
@DENAirport. 2 flights cancelled 3 delayed for 3 hours. Good job here is a photo of the first weather delay. Temp 35 degrees pic.twitter.com/LhsDUjfOW5
— Kriston Stegmaier (@kstegmai) November 18, 2016
DIA officials told Denver7 that deicing is handled by each airline and their contractors, and not by the airport itself. They urged passengers to contact their airlines for flight status information.
Deja Clark’s Spirit airlines flight was canceled for the night.
“We had a connect flight here actually at 3:30 p.m. and we were delayed until 4:00 p.m. and they canceled it and said we had to wait until in the morning,” said Clark.
Clark is trying to get to LA for her honeymoon.
“The plan is to stay in a hotel in the Denver area and then we will I guess board a plane at 7 in the morning,” said Clark.
Clark wasn't the only one feeling the upset about being stuck at DIA.
Former Governor of Vermont Howard Dean, who also happens to be the former Chair of the Democratic National Committee, tweeted he had been stuck at the airport for more than a hour-and-a-half.
Denver is a beautiful airport and possibly the worst run in the US. 1/4 inch snow and it has been chaos here all afternoon and evening
— Howard Dean (@GovHowardDean) November 18, 2016
Captain reports " longest de icing in his career". So far an hour and a half. Flights delayed four to five hours so far.
— Howard Dean (@GovHowardDean) November 18, 2016
Delta, Frontier and Southwest Airlines reported no problems in their deicing procedures.
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