January 17:

We have distributed the following talking points to the local media today:

• Memphis International Airport has remained open and flights are continuing to arrive and depart.
  
  
• Since Sunday, airport crews have worked 24 hours a day in order to keep runways clear and safe for airline arrivals and departures.
  
  
• Airport crews will be onsite early tomorrow morning to pretreat paved surfaces with deicing chemicals ahead of the expected winter precipitation.
  
  
• While the airport has remained open, winter weather and operations have affected some airline flight schedules. Passengers should check directly with their airlines before traveling. Airlines manage all aspects of scheduling and will have the most up-to-date information.
  
  
• Each airline is responsible for its own deicing operations and equipment.

• Due to road conditions, passengers should also allow for extra time to get to the airport. It is recommended that they arrive at least two hours prior to their scheduled departure.

January 15:

We have distributed the following talking points to the local media today:

• Memphis International Airport is open and flights are continuing to arrive and depart. Airport crews are continuing to work around the clock.
  
  
• However, winter weather across the nation has impacted airline flight schedules. Passengers should check directly with their airlines before traveling today. Airlines manage all aspects of scheduling and will have the most up-to-date information.
  
  
• MEM’s consolidated deicing facility is active and airlines are performing deicing operations as needed.

• While MEM is responsible for deicing and clearing runways and taxiways, airlines handle all aspects of deicing aircraft, including inventory, scheduling, application and equipment maintenance.
  
  
• MEM has 44 vehicles dedicated to snow/ice removal, including snow brooms, plow trucks, snow blowers, liquid and granular de-icing trucks, and tractors.
  
  
• About 75 Airfield Maintenance and 50 Building Maintenance employees are available, along with staff from Operations, Communications, Airport Police, Procurement, and other areas. The vast majority of the Airport Authority’s 300 employees are involved in winter weather operations in some capacity.

• Due to road conditions, passengers should also allow for extra time to get to the airport. It is recommended that they arrive at least two hours prior to their scheduled departure.
• Flight status can be found here.

January 13:

The following information is being shared to media and the public regarding this weekend’s expected winter weather:

• Memphis International Airport is monitoring the weather and is prepared to activate the consolidated deicing facility (CDF) and/or deploy snow and ice removal equipment if the expected winter precipitation arrives Sunday.

• When winter weather is forecast, MEM schedules its crews based on the amount, duration and type of the expected precipitation. Snow and ice require different types of treatment. The goal is to prevent the buildup of ice and snow on runways and taxiways so that aircraft can continue to operate.
  
  
• MEM has 44 vehicles dedicated to snow/ice removal, including snow brooms, plow trucks, snow blowers, liquid and granular de-icing trucks, and tractors.
  
  
• About 75 Airfield Maintenance and 50 Building Maintenance employees are available, along with staff from Operations, Communications, Airport Police, Procurement, and other areas. The vast majority of the Airport Authority’s 300 employees are involved in winter weather operations in some capacity.

• Passengers should check frequently with their airlines for the latest scheduling information. The airlines will have the most up to date information on scheduling at Memphis and elsewhere across the country. Even if MEM is open with flights arriving and departing, weather across the U.S. could disrupt airline schedules.