Storm Pummels Denver, Strands Thousands at Airport

Travelers found themselves stranded not only on the closed interstates of I-25 and I-70, but also, thousands were caught at Denver International Airport, waiting for a break in a storm so significant, over two feet fell in a 24-hour period. The storm, the most powerful since the March of 2003 blizzard that shut down not only Denver, but also most of Northern Colorado and Southern Wyoming, came at the worst possible time: when thousands of people were beginning their holiday travels.

On Friday, Dec. 22, DIA, the nation's fifth-busiest airport, finally began to see flights able to leave, but with nearly 5,000 stranded passengers, the backlog of flights will likely take all weekend before the airport is again up to speed. Many travelers, from out of state, who were unlucky enough to make it to the airport, may now be hit with the additional woes of still being unable to return home for the Christmas holiday.

Unfortunately, for those who had been stranded at the airport, those with long standing reservations for outbound flights, found them seated first, while everyone else was left to rebook and hope for the best. Ashtin Adkins, from Laramie, Wyo., only made it partially to Fort Collins, before finding out the airport had been closed. Although her flight was scheduled for the following day, she had hoped the storm would pass and she would be able to return home to Houston, Texas.

"This storm could not have come at a worse possible time," Adkins said, snowed in at her Laramie apartment. "But, I guess I'd rather be home than stuck at the airport."

Reportedly, more than 9 million Americans will be utilizing the airlines for travel needs during the Christmas to New Year's period. However, the storm's impact is being felt nationwide and many airports were either seeing their flight unable to land in Denver or were taking those diverted from DIA. In fact, more than 3,000 flights were diverted from Denver while it experienced its 45-hour closure.

As business resumed and flights began leaving the tarmac, many airlines had the unpleasant duty of explaining to passengers why more planes can't be brought in to alleviate the overwhelming crowds. Unfortunately, for many passengers, only two of the airport's six runways had flights leaving them, but two additional runways are to be cleared by 6 p.m., Friday. Although it may be too late for many already weary travelers, United, the largest carrier in the Denver area, believed it would be running at one-third its schedule Friday and expected to achieve it's full capacity by Saturday.