Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air canceled 310 flights to and from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Thursday night, due to an ice storm hitting the region. Planes were taking four times the usual amount of time and deicing fluid -- up to one hour -- to properly deice. (Courtesy Alaska Airlines)
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ANCHORAGE, Alaska—
Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air were forced to cancel 310 flights to and from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, affecting 29,000 passengers, early Thursday evening due to an extraordinary ice storm hitting the region.
Alaska Airlines spokesperson Bobbie Egan says only 15 Alaska Airlines flights and one Horizon Air flight were able to leave Seattle before the storm hit. Deicing planes in Seattle is taking up to one hour -- four times the usual amount of time, as well as deicing fluid -- due to unique icing conditions, although 16 deicing trucks have been assigned to the task.
More than 345 Alaska Airlines reservations agents, a 35 percent staffing increase, have been assigned to assist passengers with flight changes. As many as 750 people have been on hold Thursday on the airline’s reservations hotline.
“We are doing our best to operate as many flights as possible to get people where they need to go as we cope with severe ice accumulation on our planes,” said Brad Tilden, Alaska Airlines’ president, in a statement released Thursday night. “We appreciate customers’ patience and understanding as we contend with the freezing rain that has disrupted travel throughout the region. Our operational decisions will continue to be guided by our commitment to safety.”
Tilden advised passengers to check the status of their flights online at www.alaskaair.com and not drive to the airport unless their flight is scheduled to operate.
The two airlines each plan to attempt 20 departures from Seattle Thursday, weather permitting. The forecast in Seattle calls for freezing rain until midnight, with rain also expected tomorrow. If that forecast holds, Alaska and Horizon plan to return to mostly normal operations, but regional forecasts have been frequently changing.
Passengers who need to reschedule their travel should call Alaska Airlines Reservations at 1-800-ALASKAAIR (1-800-252-7522 or TTY/TDD line 1-800-392-0228). The airline is waiving change
fees.
“Due to the ongoing possibility of adverse weather and as a precaution, the airlines are not allowing unaccompanied minors or checked pets to travel at this time,” Egan wrote.
Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air were forced to cancel 310 flights to and from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, affecting 29,000 passengers, early Thursday evening due to an extraordinary ice storm hitting the region.
Alaska Airlines spokesperson Bobbie Egan says only 15 Alaska Airlines flights and one Horizon Air flight were able to leave Seattle before the storm hit. Deicing planes in Seattle is taking up to one hour -- four times the usual amount of time, as well as deicing fluid -- due to unique icing conditions, although 16 deicing trucks have been assigned to the task.
More than 345 Alaska Airlines reservations agents, a 35 percent staffing increase, have been assigned to assist passengers with flight changes. As many as 750 people have been on hold Thursday on the airline’s reservations hotline.
“We are doing our best to operate as many flights as possible to get people where they need to go as we cope with severe ice accumulation on our planes,” said Brad Tilden, Alaska Airlines’ president, in a statement released Thursday night. “We appreciate customers’ patience and understanding as we contend with the freezing rain that has disrupted travel throughout the region. Our operational decisions will continue to be guided by our commitment to safety.”
Tilden advised passengers to check the status of their flights online at www.alaskaair.com and not drive to the airport unless their flight is scheduled to operate.
The two airlines each plan to attempt 20 departures from Seattle Thursday, weather permitting. The forecast in Seattle calls for freezing rain until midnight, with rain also expected tomorrow. If that forecast holds, Alaska and Horizon plan to return to mostly normal operations, but regional forecasts have been frequently changing.
Passengers who need to reschedule their travel should call Alaska Airlines Reservations at 1-800-ALASKAAIR (1-800-252-7522 or TTY/TDD line 1-800-392-0228). The airline is waiving change
fees.
“Due to the ongoing possibility of adverse weather and as a precaution, the airlines are not allowing unaccompanied minors or checked pets to travel at this time,” Egan wrote.
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