Houston airports remain closed in Ike's wake

Published: September 13, 2008

DALLAS - Houston's two commercial airports remained closed Saturday as Hurricane Ike rumbled north from the Gulf of Mexico, but other Texas airports continued operations with an eye on the hurricane's path.

Marcia Adams, a spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration in Washington, said the closures caused no serious delays elsewhere in the country because they were anticipated and planned for.

Bush Intercontinental Airport and Hobby Airport, which closed Friday afternoon as Ike approached, remained closed early Saturday afternoon.

Roland Herwig, spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administation's Southwest Region, said Hobby Airport was expected to open later Saturday; he did not know when Bush Intercontinental would reopen.

Hobby spokeswoman Marlene McClinton said the airport, south of downtown Houston, sustained a few broken windows and some water leaks, but no major damage.

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport remained open Saturday for most flights. But airport authorities urged travelers in the region to check with their airlines as the huge storm moved northward from the Gulf of Mexico.

DFW reported that only about two dozen flights to South Texas and Louisiana had been canceled because of conditions associated with Ike; flights into Dallas-Fort Worth were unaffected.

There was no certainty, however, that the airport would remain open and that flights would continue on schedule. Airport spokesman Ken Capps said wind gusts up to 45 mph were forecast for Dallas late Saturday afternoon and evening, when Ike was expected to move north and become a tropical storm.

Airports in San Antonio and Austin also remained open Saturday, although flights to and from Houston were canceled at both facilities.

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