Flights Gradually Resume at Reagan National and Dulles as Winter Storm Fern’s Impacts Persist

Air traffic returns in stages after widespread cancellations

Commercial flight operations began returning in stages at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) following major disruptions tied to Winter Storm Fern. The storm forced extensive cancellations across the Washington region over the weekend, with DCA effectively suspending departures at the height of the event and IAD operating only limited activity as crews worked to keep airfield surfaces usable.

By early Tuesday, DCA had reopened its runways after overnight airfield work, but carriers continued to cancel and delay flights through the morning as aircraft and crews were repositioned and deicing operations scaled up. Travelers reported repeated itinerary changes as airlines managed backlogs created by the shutdown and by broader network disruptions across the country.

Why recovery can lag after weather clears

Airport operations during winter storms depend on runway and taxiway clearing, aircraft deicing capacity, staffing levels, and safe sequencing of arrivals and departures. Even after precipitation ends, recovery may be slowed by persistent subfreezing temperatures that allow compacted snow and sleet to refreeze, complicating braking action and ground handling. In the Washington area, the storm’s mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain created dense accumulation that was difficult to remove and slow to melt.

Flight resumptions typically occur incrementally, with airlines first restoring a limited schedule and then adding capacity as crews, aircraft, and airport services realign.

Storm Fern’s local conditions: heavy frozen mix and prolonged cold

Winter Storm Fern brought an unusual combination of several inches of snow followed by substantial sleet and periods of freezing rain in parts of the Mid-Atlantic. The frozen mix, combined with temperatures remaining well below freezing, elevated the risk of icy surfaces on roadways and airport aprons and prolonged cleanup timelines. Regional transit also faced limitations during the storm; rail service later resumed, improving access to terminals as flights restarted.

National ripple effects reached Washington-area flights

The Washington-area disruptions unfolded amid a nationwide surge in cancellations and delays as the same storm system affected multiple hub airports. Airline schedules are tightly connected across regions, and disruptions at major hubs can cascade into missed aircraft rotations and crew duty-time constraints elsewhere. As a result, even airports where conditions improve may see continued cancellations tied to aircraft and crew being out of position.

What passengers can do as schedules normalize

• Confirm flight status before traveling to the airport, including gate and departure-time changes.
• Allow extra time for ground transportation and airport processing during recovery periods.
• Expect limited rebooking availability immediately after widespread cancellations, especially on peak routes.
• Monitor baggage updates if a trip involved rebooking across multiple flights or days.

While airfield conditions improved enough to resume operations, the pace of recovery at DCA and IAD remained tied to continued cold weather, deicing needs, and the time required to restore normal aircraft and crew rotations across airline networks.