Why was the Lincoln international airport functioning with difficulty?

Answer 1

There are several reasons given in the movie:

1. It is snowing;
2. There is a plane stuck with its tail sticking out into the "good" runway (runway 29), so they are forced to use the alternate runway (runway 22);
3. Noise abatement procedures are required on runway 22;
4. The managing board of the airport has sacrificed long term plans and not allowed the airport to expand as the airport director (Burt Lancaster) has wanted to;
5. The airport director is having a fight with his wife (so he's distracted);
6. They allow pilots (Dean Martin) to push around the ground staff (and takeoff with an incorrect head count);
7. And last but not least, they wouldn't have a movie otherwise.