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Tag: RDU

  • Airlines are canceling flights at RDU well before winter storm arrives

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    Raleigh-Durham International Airport has two of these 22-foot long brooms for sweeping snow and ice from runways.

    Raleigh-Durham International Airport has two of these 22-foot long brooms for sweeping snow and ice from runways.


    Richard Stradling

    rstradling@newsobserver.com

    Snow, sleet and freezing rain aren’t expected to reach Raleigh-Durham International Airport until Saturday evening, but airlines have already canceled dozens of flights there.

    Some flights have been scrubbed because of weather conditions in other cities, as the storm moves in from the west toward the Northeast. Others were canceled in anticipation of deteriorating weather in North Carolina.

    The storm is expected to intensify in the Triangle overnight and continue through Sunday, with ice and freezing rain making travel treacherous. RDU officials urge people to check with their airline before venturing out to catch a departing flight or pick someone up at the airport.

    As of noon Saturday, nearly 50 flights scheduled to arrive at RDU had been canceled, including several from places such as Dallas and Nashville already experiencing winter weather.

    More than two dozen departures had also been canceled, and that number is expected to rise. Southwest Airlines has told RDU that it will cease flight operations at the airport at 3 p.m. Saturday, and United Airlines says it will stop at 4 p.m., according to airport spokeswoman Stephanie Hawco.

    Frontier also said it would stop flying at RDU at some point Saturday, Hawco said.

    “We expect to hear from more airlines as the day goes on,” she wrote in an email.

    Several of the flights already canceled at RDU involve American Airlines, which announced that it was adding 3,000 additional seats on its route from its hub at Charlotte Douglas International Airport to Chicago O’Hare International Airport on Saturday in anticipation of weather problems in North Carolina.

    “By adding capacity at its second-largest hub, American is giving customers more options to connect onward and minimize possible disruptions,” the airline said in a statement.

    RDU crews are prepared to keep at least one of its two commercial runways open at all times throughout the storm. Snow and ice have not forced RDU to shut down for any length of time since the historic snow storm of 2000, when more 20 inches of snow and lingering cold closed the airport for two days.

    This story was originally published January 24, 2026 at 12:37 PM.

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    Richard Stradling

    The News & Observer

    Richard Stradling covers transportation for The News & Observer. Planes, trains and automobiles, plus ferries, bicycles, scooters and just plain walking. He’s been a reporter or editor for 38 years, including the last 26 at The N&O. 919-829-4739, rstradling@newsobserver.com.

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    Richard Stradling

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  • Flights from RDU to Jamaica on hold because of hurricane damage

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    Breeze Airways will fly its new Caribbean routes from Raleigh-Durham International Airport on Airbus A220-300 aircraft.

    Breeze Airways will fly its new Caribbean routes from Raleigh-Durham International Airport on Airbus A220-300 aircraft.

    Breeze Airways

    The start of nonstop flights between the Triangle and Jamaica has been postponed as the island nation recovers from a powerful hurricane in the fall.

    Breeze Airways expected to begin flying twice a week between Raleigh-Durham International Airport and Montego Bay on March 5.

    The low-cost carrier now says the start of those flights has been delayed until sometime late this year.

    In a written statement, the airline cites “extensive damage to both airport facilities and resorts” in western Jamaica caused by Hurricane Melissa in late October. Melissa was the strongest hurricane to hit Jamaica in recorded history, with sustained winds of 185 mph.

    “We apologize for any inconvenience this might have caused for our guests and look forward to welcoming them back onboard later in the year,” the airline said.

    Breeze is the only airline with announced flights to Jamaica from RDU. Avelo Airlines had flown to Montego Bay from the Triangle twice a week last year but ended that service Jan. 3, saying it wasn’t able to sell enough seats on its Boeing 737 aircraft.

    Breeze uses smaller Airbus A220-300 aircraft that seat 137 passengers.

    Triangle travelers can fly nonstop from RDU to two other Caribbean islands. Three airlines — Delta, Frontier and JetBlue — offer nonstops to San Juan, Puerto Rico. And Breeze plans to begin nonstops to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, on March 4, joining Avelo and American on that route.

    Related Stories from Raleigh News & Observer

    Richard Stradling

    The News & Observer

    Richard Stradling covers transportation for The News & Observer. Planes, trains and automobiles, plus ferries, bicycles, scooters and just plain walking. He’s been a reporter or editor for 38 years, including the last 26 at The N&O. 919-829-4739, rstradling@newsobserver.com.

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    Richard Stradling

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  • Southwest still assessing damage after Avelo plane clips tail at RDU

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    An Avelo Airlines 737 parked at a gate at Raleigh-Durham International Airport’s Terminal 1. Avelo moved its RDU operations to the terminal on Feb. 16, 2023.

    An Avelo Airlines 737 parked at a gate at Raleigh-Durham International Airport’s Terminal 1. Avelo moved its RDU operations to the terminal on Feb. 16, 2023.


    Richard Stradling

    rstradling@newsobserver.com

    Southwest Airlines is still assessing the damage to one of its planes after a New Year’s Day collision at Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

    A Southwest plane had its right horizontal stabilizer clipped by the wingtip of “another airline’s aircraft” Thursday, Southwest said in a statement. An Avelo Airlines plane was involved in the collision. The Southwest plane was parked in a remote area with no one inside, and no injuries were reported.

    “Our Maintenance Team is assessing the damage. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the Safety of our Customers and Employees,” Southwest said.

    Avelo said in a Thursday statement that the collision occurred while the Avelo plane was being towed. No one was on the plane.

    “We are in the process of determining maintenance issues and looking into the issue of what occurred,” an Avelo spokesperson said.

    Twumasi Duah-Mensah

    The News & Observer

    Twumasi Duah-Mensah is a Breaking News Reporter for The News & Observer. He began at The N&O as a summer intern on the metro desk. Triangle born and Tar Heel bred, Twumasi has bylines for WUNC, NC Health News and the Center for Innovation and Sustainability in Local Media. Send him tips and good tea places at (919) 283-1187.

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