Fog causes minor delays at Redmond Airport, officials urge travelers to plan ahead

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Fog continues to hang over much of Central Oregon this week, and one of the biggest impacts has been at local airports. In Redmond, some flights have faced delays or even been re-routed because of limited visibility.

Despite that, Redmond Airport staff say the overall impact has been minor. Customer Service Supervisor Jodie Low said travelers should expect some changes when fog settles in, and plan accordingly.

"I think the main key takeaway is that we can't control weather," Low said. "You just want to stay informed as best you can. Have a backup plan. There are options to buy insurance for your travel. You might want to consider that and just stay informed with your airline — their website and their application."

Airport staff also advise passengers to dress for the cold, since boarding often requires walking outside to the plane, and to watch for icy spots while traveling to the terminal.

When KTVZ stopped by the airport Tuesday, some travelers said they were lucky the fog cleared just in time for their flights.

"We think our timing was perfect because we had no problem at all," said Susan Gregory, who flew in from Salt Lake City. "I was a little worried it might actually be freezing fog because it’s so chilly."

"It was thick fog for probably four or five minutes as we came in, but it cleared up right as we approached the runway," said Heather Leasure, arriving from San Diego.

Drivers heading to and from the airport also dealt with pockets of dense fog across Highway 97.

"On 97, it was like a whiteout," said Erin Vanderzee of Bend. "You couldn’t see anything. People weren’t maintaining that safe distance. So just PSA — turn on those fog lights and slow down."

For the latest flight updates, visit the Redmond Airport website.