Snowy day snarls Denver airport travel plans

Denver International Airport woke up to a winter surprise this week when more than five inches of snow blanketed the runways overnight. The early morning storm disrupted air travel plans across the board. By midday, over 280 flights were running behind schedule, with another 34 completely scrapped. Flight tracking tools showed Southwest Airlines took the biggest hit, facing nearly 100 delays and six cancellations. United and SkyWest also felt the pain, with dozens of delays and a handful of cancellations between them. The snow didn't quit after sunrise either. It kept falling steadily across the Denver area for hours, making the travel morning even trickier. Planes that did manage to take off needed quick deicing sessions before they could leave, but at least there weren't any full ground stops grounding flights completely. The National Weather Service confirmed the snowfall total at the airport reached about 5. 5 inches by 8 a. m. , a solid amount for a single overnight storm.Travelers weren’t just dealing with delays from one airline either. Nine different carriers reported minor delays ranging from one to five flights each. Frontier Airlines had a lighter impact, with only 14 flights delayed. The situation shows how even a moderate snowfall can ripple through airport operations, turning a regular travel day into a waiting game for thousands. While the airport managed to avoid the worst-case scenario—no complete shutdowns—passengers still faced long lines and rescheduling headaches. The mix of airlines affected also hints at how weather doesn’t play favorites; it disrupts everyone from budget carriers to major airlines alike.