Critics attack airport blizzard response

DENVER, Dec. 25 (UPI) -- Some aviation experts have accused the Denver International Airport of responding poorly to a major blizzard last week.

The critics cited the airport's slowness in reopening two of its six runways Friday after the road leading to the airport was cleared more than 24 hours prior to the resumption of flights, The Rocky Mountain News reported Monday.

"There's no question the ball was dropped," said aviation consultant Mike Boyd.

"There are other airports just giggling about this," Boyd said. "Other hubs are saying they will take advantage of this."

All six of the runways were in operation Saturday afternoon, but passengers awaiting flights were still camped out on cots in the airport as late as 10 p.m. Sunday.

"What is amazing is that Denver is one of the better-run airports," Boyd said. "It's insulting to have DIA say it took them so long after the snow stopped to reopen."