Birmingham Airport Issues Travel Advisory
There is an old joke that whichever direction you go in the afterlife, you have got to go through Atlanta to get there. This weekend that may not even be possible. With a massive winter stom moving across the nation, Atlanta is expected to be hit hard with snow, ice and extreme low temperatures. As the main hub for commercial aviation in the southeast, that has passengers booked on flights in and out of Birmingham and other airports in the state and region nervous.
While Birmingham is not expecting direct impact from winter conditions it is the indirect impact that could be a significant problem. Airlines are already canceling and delaying some flights nationwide. Travel to or from Atlanta and other airports in the path of the storm might be impacted. Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International (BSI) has issued a Travel Advisory informing passengers flying into and out of the Majic City that, "...there will be travel disruptions - even in areas not hit by ice and snow."
So far this morning, eight flights out of BSI on Delta, American and Southwest airlines have been cancelled to Dallas, Nashville, Charlotte, and Atlanta and more cancellations and significant delays are expected throughout the weekend.
Six arriving BSI flights, on the same airlines, from the same cities have been cancelled this morning already.
Dallas, which has already been hit by one round of snow, faces a second round. This one will bring heavy sleet and freezing rain. The DFW Internation Airport area can expect 2 to 3 inches of sleet today.
All airports that are BSI destinations, including the secondary hub at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, remain open and operational as of now despite the incoming weather, However, travelers out of Birmingham should expect significant delays and cancellations across the flight network due to weather-related disruptions throughout the weekend and into Monday.
Airports have mobilized grounds crews and equipment in an attempt to keep runways and taxiways clear and to provide aircraft de-icing. However, that may not be enough if the winter storm becomes overwhelming.
The Federal Aviation Administration is also advising travelers to realize if they are able to fly to their destination, they may not be able to leave the arriving airport due to impassible roads and shutdown public transport upon arrival.
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