If you looked out your window Friday afternoon, you may have been glad you weren't flying in or out of Lubbock. Those who were found themselves delayed, canceled, or in other cities altogether.
Flights were running smoothly Monday morning until that West Texas wind picked up.
“This one came a little sooner than we thought it would,” said James Loomis, Lubbock's Aviation Director. “We were prepared for cancellations in the spring time.”
Flight delays were the norm Monday afternoon. Two flights were canceled and one plane was diverted to Midland because of the cross-wind.
“The airlines aren't going to try to attempt to land in wind that the airplane is not stressed to land in. So they're not going to do it,” Loomis said.
Gusty west winds are the worst kind said Loomis. This is because LIA's east-west runway is closed for reconstruction. Only the north-south runway is open for commercial flights.
“That project is about 15% complete and will not be completed until the first of August of this year,” Loomis said.
Being only January and heading into spring, LIA is sure to have more days like Monday when the west wind decides to blow.
“I advise them to contact the airline because we don't know what the airline is going to do,” Loomis said.
Similar winds are not expected for Tuesday, and Loomis anticipates flights will be back on track.
