Limited visibility causes flight cancellations at RST - KXLT - Fox 47 Rochester MN News, Weather and Sports

ROCHESTER, Minn. (FOX 47) -- Limited visibility has created less than ideal conditions for flights departing Rochester International Airport.

Ray and Judy Auger were first in line at the American Eagle ticket counter Monday when their travel plans changed.

"We got here at 8:30 stepped up to the counter and he said oh it's just been canceled," said Judy Auger.

Fortunately, Ray and Judy were able to rebook their flight.

"Now when I look that line stretched all the way up to the bathrooms and I don't know how lucky the people at the end of the line were," said Judy Auger.

Justin Turner was at the end of the line. He was set to leave at 7 a.m. and be in Nashville before noon.

"Now we're leaving at 12:40 and I have a 9 hour layover and I don't get into Nashville until 9:30," Turner said.

Rebooking hasn't been the easiest process either.

"I think its changed like six times already now," Turner said.

Deputy Airport Director Kurt Claussen acknowledged it's a frustrating situation but said the decision to cancel flights is based on safety.

"We deal with the snow and the ice and those conditions the best we can," Claussen said. "We have crews that work 24 hours a day on the runway, we have chemicals that we apply so for the most part I think we maintain a pretty good runway condition and safe environment."

But the airport can only do so much. It has no control over the visibility and ultimately that's what determines whether planes can land.