More than 12 hours after it closed due to freezing rain and ice on its runways, the Redmond Airport reopened to air travel about 9 a.m. Friday morning. The first flights began leaving the ice-cleared runways about 11:30 a.m.

More than a dozen flights were delayed or canceled and the knock-on effects are expected to cause issues after the runways closed about 2 p.m. Thursday afternoon and remained closed throughout the night, according to airport officials. At least one flight on Thursday was in the air and bound for Redmond when the closure went into effect and was re-routed to Eugene.

Passengers should contact their airline directly to get updated flight information. 

Airport manager Zach Bass said freezing rain was the worst kind of weather an airport can get. About a tenth of an inch of ice coated the runway Thursday afternoon, Bass said, and continued to fall throughout the evening.

“We would much, much rather have a bunch of snow than any amount of freezing rain,” Bass said. “Once the freezing rain stops, or turns into more snow, it usually takes us an hour or two to make sure the runway is completely bare.”

Crews perform regular friction tests on the runway. If it gets too slick, Federal Aviation Administration rules require the airport to close. Bass said he can’t remember the last time Redmond Airport closed for more than an hour — much less overnight.

“Normally we only close the airport maybe once or twice all winter,” said Bass. “Usually for short amounts of time.”