Private planes grounded at Burning Man's volunteer-run airport

"The private plane and charter jets shepherding passengers to Black Rock City, Nevada - the home of Burning Man - have all been grounded after a storm ripped through the desert. Nearly 100 aircraft landed in the Playa before the operations at 88NV, the Black Rock Municipal Airport, screeched to a halt on Sunday evening. Since then, an air ambulance was the only plane to land."

"In a typical year, the airport in the middle of the desert says it transforms into one of the country's 100 busiest, seemingly overnight. But, as of Monday morning, it remained closed following a storm that brought rain and intense winds to the Playa. The airport anticipated opening midday, though precipitation remains in the forecast over the next few days."

"Individual and charter flights shepherd passengers to the Playa, as does the Burner Express Air, a shuttle service that connects 88NV to Los Angeles, the Bay Area, and nearby Reno. Tickets cost between $900 and $2,400 each way, and the service also offers the option to charter an entire aircraft for up to $18,000 one way. A spokesperson for the Burner Express told Business Insider that demand is up over 20% this year; last year, it served 2,184 passengers, according to the annual AfterBurn report."

Burning Man is underway in Nevada with volunteers building a temporary airport that typically becomes one of the country's 100 busiest. A storm brought rain and intense winds, grounding private planes and charter jets and halting operations at 88NV after nearly 100 aircraft landed. Since the storm, an air ambulance was the only plane to land. The airport expected to reopen midday, though precipitation remained in the forecast. In 2023 a plane was grounded for weeks due to muddy conditions. Built about 1.5 miles from Black Rock City center, 88NV supports individual and charter flights and Burner Express shuttles; Burner Express fares range from $900 to $2,400 and demand is up over 20%

Read at Business Insider