Portland Airport Shut Down by Storm for Third Day

Portland Airport Shut Down by Storm for Third Day 
Thu January 8, 2004 03:41 PM ET 

SEATTLE (Reuters) - Portland, Oregon's airport was closed for the third day on 
Thursday after a winter storm swept through the northwest region this week, 
dropping snow and ice over runways, railways and roads. 

Flights in and out of Portland were suspended until 5 a.m. PST (8 a.m. EST) and 
Portland Internal Airport spokeswoman Elisa Dozono said that some airlines had 
canceled flights on Friday, as well. 

"So far, no one seems to be able to predict the storm well," Dozono said. 
"We're depending a lot on Mother Nature at this point." 

Government offices and many businesses shuttered their doors earlier this week 
after the region, known for its mild but wet weather, was hit by its biggest 
winter storm in seven years. 

Alaska Air Group Inc. and its regional unit, Horizon Air, as well as Southwest 
Airlines Inc. all have substantial operations at Portland's airport, as do 
domestic and international flights operated by other major carriers. 

Airport officials and experts declined to estimate the cost of damages, but 
flooding after a major snowstorm several years ago caused several hundred 
million dollars in damages to the local economy. 

More than 11.3 million passengers passed through Portland International in 2003 
and about 25,000 use the airport daily during the current travel season, Dozono 
said. 

Flights at the Pacific Northwest's other major hub, Seattle-Tacoma 
International Airport, were delayed in recent days but the airport remained 
open as weather conditions were less severe in Washington state. 


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