Article Text
Winter Storm Fern brought air travel to a near standstill Sunday, Jan. 25, canceling every flight at Reagan National Airport and most flights at Dulles International Airport.
Snow began falling at Dulles around midnight. By 7 a.m., crews were rotating among the airport’s runways in an effort to keep at least one open, but most flight operations remained suspended as treacherous conditions were expected throughout the day.
Travelers were urged to confirm their flight status or rebook directly through their airline’s website, app, chat service or customer-service line. Airlines often waive change fees during severe weather.
Dulles closed the west TSA checkpoint in its main terminal, directing passengers to the east checkpoint for all gates. U.S. Customs and Border Protection was processing international arrivals only in the main terminal.
Limited concessions remained open in each terminal, primarily offering food and travel essentials. Parking facilities were open, though travelers were advised to check space availability and local road conditions before driving to the airport.
Officials also warned that significant snowfall could suspend service at Dulles’ above-ground Metrorail station.
Dulles expected all terminals to be open Monday, with additional operational details to be released as they became available.
At Reagan National, TSA screening remained available to employees and ticketed passengers despite the complete flight cancellation. A limited number of concessions also remained open.