All Airlines Resume Service at RDU

One runway remains closed.

Friday night the 7,500-foot runway behind Terminal A opened, after workers spent the day clearing it.

The primary 10,000-foot runway opened Thursday at 4 p.m. when an AirTran flight was the first to fly out of the snow-snarled airport. Several other flights departed throughout the night.

The original target was to have the airport open by 6 a.m. Thursday. The reopening was then backed up to noon, then 3 p.m.

By Friday evening, all 24 airlines that service RDU were offering some flights in and out.

Travelers who were able to return have been facing a long haul getting their cars out of airport parking lots.

Crews worked throughout the night Thursday to clear Park and Ride lots 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Airport spokesperson Mike Blanton says lot 4 is open for people exiting and entering the airport. Lots 1, 2 and 3 are open for people exiting.

Blanton encourages people who are headed to the airport to be dropped off by a friend.

Even though the lots have been cleared, some ice may still remain on the roads, so officials warn drivers to be careful pulling out of spaces and leaving the airport.

The airport has not decided how to charge passengers whose cars have been stranded at the airport since Monday night or Tuesday.

Blanton says he hopes this weekend storm will bring light freezing rain and rain and cause few disruptions for travelers. But if the storm cripples Atlanta, Blanton warns there could be delays and cancellations at RDU. He suggests travelers check with the airlines for specific information about departures and arrivals.