American Airlines has canceled the first flights into and out of Flagstaff on Friday morning, after the airline canceled every flight arriving in or leaving Flagstaff on Thursday.
The Flagstaff Airport has received 26.8 inches of snow between Monday morning and this morning at 11 am. Over two feet! #azwx
— NWS Flagstaff (@NWSFlagstaff) January 7, 2016
The remaining flights for Friday are still scheduled to operate, according to the airline's website.
"I hate to see the airlines cancel, but realistically, they're doing the right thing today," said Barney Helmick, Flagstaff's airport director.
A private plane was stuck in the snow on the airport's runway Thursday morning, Helmick said.
That incident delayed plow crews from working to clear snow from the runway.
Newlyweds Balwin and Kat Ratra did not know about the American Airlines cancellations when they arrived at the airport Thursday afternoon, hoping to catch their flight to Phoenix then continue home to New York.
"We kind of expected it, there was so much snow," Kat said.
The pair drove to Flagstaff Thursday morning from Sedona, taking the switchbacks on 89A through treacherous conditions.
"This is like the raw essence of nature," Balwin said.
