Houston Airports
, the company managing three airports near the city of Houston, Texas, has warned that it will suspend all flights from the trio on January 21 due to extreme winter weather to prioritize safety.
Hazardous road conditions
Houston Airports issued a safety alert that starting at midnight on January 21, the authority will shut down all traffic from/to George Bush Intercontinental Airport
(IAH), William P. Hobby Airport
(HOU), and Ellington Airport/Houston Spaceport (EFD).
The suspension will last during the forecasted winter storm due to “extremely hazardous road conditions throughout Houston,” Houston Airports said in a travel alert issued on its website.
The authority urged passengers with existing travel plans to contact their airline for more information and pleaded with travelers not to drive to the airports during the storm.
“While there will be no departing or arriving flights, our dedicated teams will remain on-site 24-7, working diligently to prepare for a swift and safe return to normal operations when weather permits.”
Photo: Steve Heap | Shutterstock
Houston Airports said that it would deploy snowplows and heavy machinery to clear its airfields and prepare for a safe return to operations as soon as weather conditions permit the airport to do so.
According to the authority, no flights will be planned from/to the three airports for the whole day unless the weather changes.
Related
Winter Storms Causing Major Disruptions In The United States
Nearly 10,000 flights were disrupted, with American Airlines and Southwest Airlines impacted the most.
Winter storm warning
Meanwhile, the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a freeze warning for portions of Houston and its suburbs and a cold weather advisory for other parts of the city and its surroundings on January 20. The NWS maps showed that Houston-Intercontinental Airport is located in the area with a freeze warning.
“Northern areas will experience a hard freeze with low temperatures in the low 20s. Be sure to dress accordingly.”
Meanwhile, all of Houston was included in the NWS’ winter storm warming, which will come into effect at 18:00 local time (UTC -6) on January 20. The warning should stay in effect until 18:00 on January 21.
Photo: Jaromir Chalabala | Shutterstock
The NWS warned that roads, especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous, noting that residents should prepare for slippery conditions. Furthermore, residents should not travel since road conditions will be “dangerous or impossible.”
Related
Dallas Airports Face Thunderstorm Delays With Ground Stop At Dallas Love Field
Travelers are facing significant delays.
Affecting over 600 flights
Data from the aviation analytics company Cirium’s Diio Mi airline planning tool showed that on January 21, 23 airlines have planned 644 flights out of Houston-Intercontinental and Houston-Hobby airports.
Considering that the former airport is one of the central hubs for 
United Airlines
, the airline accounts for 64.5% of that traffic (416 out of 644 flights), with Southwest Airlines, which has a major base at Houston-Hobby, accounting for another 19.2% (124 out of 644).
In total, airlines have scheduled 89,777 seats to fly from/to the two Houston airports – Ellington Airport has no scheduled flights – including international flights on such carriers as 
Lufthansa
or 
Turkish Airlines
.
Photo: Robert Buchel | Shutterstock
United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and other carriers, including 
American Airlines
, whose main hub is Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), have also issued travel alerts about potential flight disruptions between January 20 and January 22.
The carriers have offered passengers whose flights might be affected by the severe winter weather the opportunity to change their bookings that go from, to, or through the affected airports without paying additional charges.
Infamously, severe winter weather had resulted in major disruptions across Southwest Airlines operations in December 2022, when the airline had to cancel over 16,000 flights. As a result of the massive flight disruption throughout its network, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) fined the airline $140 million in December 2023.
Related
Southwest Airlines Fined $140 Million For Last Winter’s Meltdown
In addition to its fine, Southwest Airlines will establish a compensation policy for canceled or delayed flights, giving affected passengers $75.
