That big is causing problems for Denver travelers trying to get to or from the East Coast, DIA officials said Saturday.
Not as expected, however, is that United Airlines, the airport’s largest carrier, has also dropped flights to and from several fair weather destinations.
As of Saturday afternoon, 82 flights were canceled between Denver and many parts of the East Coast because of the storm, said Denver International Airport spokesman Heath Montgomery.
Most of those involved cities in the path of the storm — Washington, D.C., New York City, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Newark, according to Flightstats, a website that provides flight information.
Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham, N.C., also were trouble spots, but Denver flights were leaving on time for Pittsburgh and Boston.
United Airlines canceled several Denver-related flights on Saturday and Sunday involving locales far removed from the storm — Phoenix, Las Vegas, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Santa Ana, Calif., according to Flightstats.
“There is a ripple effect,” said Montgomery, who hadn’t heard a specific reason for why United dropped those flights.
Trouble in one part of the country can cause aircraft to be out of position, causing flight delays and cancellations elsewhere.
Montgomery said he was told that airlines relocated aircraft further west away from the path of the storm, but only a few spent the night in Denver.
“I don’t think we have an excess of planes parked out here,” he said.
Likewise, a television crew that came to the airport searching for stranded passengers Saturday morning left disappointed.
Airlines canceled flights far ahead of the storm and waived flight change fees, which helped passengers make other plans.
Travelers, however, are cautioned to check their flights beforehand.
Elizabeth Hernandez: 303-954-1223, ehernandez@denverpost.com or @ehernandez
