Charleston Aviation Authority not prepared for winter storm, all flights cancelled

Joint Base Charleston said Friday, they may be able to open one runway Saturday at Charleston International Airport. Chunks of snow and blocks of ice have grounded all flights in and out of the Holy City and turned quick trips into day journeys. Many people who had plans to travel by air have been forced to stay grounded.

Hundreds of feet in the air, ice and darkness surrounded the Charleston Airport. Holy City Helicopters flew us around parts of North Charleston. Even Tanger Outlets is much of a ghost town.

Many who had plans to fly into the Holy City found out their flights were cancelled. Ben and Erica Freeze had to rearrange their entire trip. Erica Freeze said they flew from, "Denver, CO, Dallas, Texas and then from Dallas, flew to Charlotte. Then we rented a car and drove the three hours to Charleston."

The couple is in town for a family reunion. They're among thousands forced to re-arrange travel plans because of the frozen runways.

"We started traveling at seven o'clock last night, and just got here." Ben Freeze said.

Paul Campbell, Executive Director of the Charleston Aviation Authority said flights being grounded is a matter of safety. "The runway condition has to be such, that we can take a plan off safely, and land a plan safely."

Because snowfall in Charleston is rare--Campbell said the airport isn't equipped to deal with the current ice build-up, “We don't have a mechanism really to clean the runways, we can put some salt or something like that on the runways."

But nearby cities like Myrtle Beach and Columbia do have snow removal equipment. Campbell said this winter storm has been a learning lesson. "We will have an alternative plan in the future, but right now we don’t have anything other than but for mother nature to melt the ice and get it off the runway."

As for Ben and Erica Freeze, they say the change in travel hasn't ruined their trip. "We're excited to explore the city."