As Hurricane Milton approaches, numerous flights to and from Florida, as well as routes connected to the Baltimore-Washington area, have been canceled across the United States. Major airlines experiencing the most disruptions include JetBlue, Frontier, Southwest, Delta, United, American, and Spirit.
Passengers with flights scheduled to Florida are advised to contact their airlines directly to verify the status of their flights, arrange date changes, or seek available ticket refunds.
Hurricane Milton's Impact on Florida Airports
On Monday, several key airports in Florida announced operational disruptions via their social media channels due to Hurricane Milton. These updates are expected to continue today, Tuesday, as the storm progresses.
Tampa International Airport has declared a temporary closure. "TPA will close due to Milton. Flight operations will be suspended at 9 a.m. on Tuesday and will resume when it is safe. Please check with your airline for flight updates. TPA is not a shelter for people or vehicles. Stay tuned to our social media for more information."
St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport will shut down on Tuesday: "The airport terminal will close after the last flight on Tuesday and remain closed on Wednesday and Thursday. The airport is in a mandatory evacuation zone and is not a public shelter."
Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport will close at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, October 8, due to the hurricane and will reopen when conditions allow. Please contact your airline for flight status updates. Stay informed via our social media channels."
Orlando International Airport announced it will halt all commercial operations on Wednesday at 8 a.m. "We will continue to monitor the hurricane's path and provide updates as they become available. Please stay in contact with your airlines regarding your flights."
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), though not directly in the storm's path, is closely monitoring its progress. "We are open but are keeping an eye on the storm due to the adverse weather likely to affect our region. Updates will be provided if the forecast changes."
Miami International Airport (MIA) remains operational and has advised passengers to stay aware of their flight statuses: "We are closely monitoring Hurricane Milton and encourage travelers to confirm their flight statuses with their airlines for any potential updates."
Flight Cancellations and Weather Conditions
In Puerto Rico, Primera Hora reported that since Monday, several flights have been canceled in Florida airports due to the dangers posed by Hurricane Milton. Arrivals from Tampa, operated by JetBlue (B6 2721), Frontier (F9 2542), and Southwest (WN 2096), have been canceled due to adverse conditions. Likewise, Southwest (WN 2773) from Baltimore-Washington faced suspension.
Regarding departures, Southwest (WN 1937 and WN 4506) canceled flights to Orlando, while Southwest (WN 3416), Frontier (F9 3979), and JetBlue (B6 2752) suspended their scheduled routes to Tampa. The status of flights and airport operations is constantly changing due to Milton's proximity. Travelers should use digital platforms for the latest updates.
Hurricane Milton reached category five on Monday afternoon. By Tuesday morning, reports downgraded it to category four, but its winds remain at 250 km/h. Meteorologists warn of potential rapid intensification of the cyclone, prompting airlines to implement flexible cancellation and date change policies for passengers.
Airline Flexibility in Response to the Storm
The news outlet Reportur highlighted that Delta has extended its flexibility policy to include flights through October 9 for destinations such as Daytona Beach, Fort Myers, and Key West. United, American, Southwest, JetBlue, and Spirit have extended flexibility through October 10. Frontier allows changes and cancellations through October 10 as well.
These measures have also been adopted by some cruise lines, which have altered departure and return dates to mitigate risks associated with the hurricane.
Milton's arrival is particularly challenging as certain parts of Florida are still recovering from the damage caused by Hurricane Helene, exacerbating the region's infrastructure and logistical challenges.