American Air resumes operations at Charlotte airport

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — American Airlines restarted operations at Charlotte-Douglas airport around noon Saturday.

The airline canceled flights Thursday because of the storm, leaving thousands of passengers stranded.

Employees told reporter Blake Hanson on Saturday morning that they had never seen the departures board with all the flights canceled.

https://twitter.com/BlakeWSOC9/status/690884938044932096

Southwest, JetBlue and a handful of other airlines also shut down flights Friday at the Charlotte airport.

American told Channel 9 that it was flying planes to other airports overnight to keep them out of harm’s way.

The airport remained open through the storm. Employees have kept it staffed.

Crews are working on 12-hour shifts to keep the airfield as clear and dry as possible, using plows and 36 de-icing trucks.

Some passengers camped out overnight hoping they will make it out as soon as possible.

https://twitter.com/BlakeWSOC9/status/690834369003589636

Even though airlines resumed flying around noon, more cancellations are still expected with winter weather battering the East Coast.

“A lot of cities that are in the American Airlines network that are up in the eastern seaboard are very impacted by this storm.” Herbert Judon, assistant aviation director, said.

WSOC