Winter storm cancels, delays flights at RDM

Frigid cold temperatures and several inches of snow slammed into Central Oregon Wednesday, causing more headaches for travelers at the Redmond Airport.

Many arriving and departing flights were canceled or delayed on Wednesday because of weather conditions.

Kelly Gorman is flying back home to Orlando after visiting family here in Central Oregon, but was playing the waiting game to see if her Delta flight was canceled.

“We’re waiting to check in to see if the flight for United gets out first;” she said. “We’re flying with Delta, and if it is, we’ll check in. But we didn’t want to check in yet and give up our rental car.”.

Gorman, like many other travelers, was trying to get home and beat the winter storm. As it turned out, her first flight east, to Salt Lake City, was delayed for about an hour.

Rebecca Guillaume arrived to the airport early after winter conditions made roads hazardous for some drivers.

Guillaume was flying to Salt Lake City to catch her connecting flight to France.

“A lot of the flights were canceled this morning, but our flight is apparently coming in from Salt Lake, so I’m hoping it will get out at 12:30 p.m. today,” she said.

Redmond Airport operation crews have been working nonstop, using snow plows to clear the snow from the tarmac.

Nicole Jurgensen, with airport security and media relations, said the airport works diligently to keep the airfield open in snow and ice conditions.

“The crew is doing the best they can to remove that snow and stay on top of it,” she said.

If you are planning on flying out of the Redmond Airport, you can go to flyrdm.com for the latest status on flights.