As Hurricane Ian approaches Florida’s Sarasota County, some Florida airports have announced closures, and airlines are offering travel waivers for those impacted.
According to flight-tracking website Flightaware.Com, Florida airports have the most significant number of flight cancellations. Over 2,000 flights scheduled for Wednesday in the United States have already been canceled, causing disruptions to the itineraries of numerous travelers.
During a White House briefing, FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell stated that the entire state will be affected by strong winds, heavy rains, flash flooding, and power outages caused by the storm surge this week.
“Residents of Florida will feel the effects of this storm for an extended period,” she stated.
Below are the current airport closures and airline travel exemptions in preparation for Hurricane Ian.
LATEST NEWS: Hurricane Ian is currently heading south, and will soon reach Sarasota, however, the entire state of Florida is anticipated to face ‘significant’ repercussions.
WHAT IS STORM SURGE? Describing a hurricane’s most lethal and highly damaging risk.
Airport closures
In order to prompt passengers to check for the initial updates and flight statuses with their respective airlines, all airports are encouraging it. Nevertheless, while some airports continue to operate, others have declared closures.
The latest information regarding Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) can be found on its Twitter page @FLLFlyer. The hurricane is currently being observed while the airport continues to function, according to the airport’s most recent announcement on Tuesday.
The Melbourne Orlando International Airport will shut down at 2 p.M. On Wednesday. Stay informed about any changes by visiting the Twitter page of Orlando Melbourne International Airport, the Facebook page of @FlyMLB, or by checking mlbair.Com.
The airport authorities at Miami International Airport (MIA) announced on Tuesday that flight operations will continue to remain open, as determined by individual airlines and the FAA. For updates, please check the airport’s Twitter page @iflymia.
Orlando International Airport (MCO) will halt its operations on Wednesday at 10:30 a.M. In anticipation of the arrival of Hurricane Ian. Stay updated by visiting Orlando International Airport’s Twitter page @MCO or Facebook page @flyMCO.
The Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) urges travelers to check their airlines for delays or cancellations before heading to the airport, as the airport is closely monitoring the storm’s progress. Check the airport’s Twitter page for updates on Tuesday, according to tweets from the airport.
More updates can be found on the Twitter page of SRQ Airport. All flight operations are suspended and the airport’s operations were ceased on Tuesday night (SRQ) at Bradenton Sarasota International Airport.
Find updates on the airport’s Facebook page @flyRSW. All flight operations for Wednesday and Thursday are canceled. Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) was closed on Tuesday night.
Find more updates on Twitter page @iflypie. The mandatory evacuation orders from Pinellas County closed PIE International Airport Clearwater Pete St. On Tuesday afternoon, and they will remain closed until the order is lifted, so the effects will continue into Monday evening.
The website of the airport stated that all activities at Tampa International Airport (TPA) have been halted since Tuesday evening in order to make arrangements for runways and terminals. To get the most recent updates on operations, refer to @FlyTPA on Twitter.
The website says that operators are monitoring the path of the storm and recommends checking with your airline for the latest flight updates. Currently, the Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) is open with a few incoming flights canceled so far.
“The updated travel dates should fall within the timeframe of Sunday and October 8th. The initial travel dates should fall between Sunday and Friday, and the flights should have been booked on or before Sunday, as per the airlines’ flexible travel policy. Passengers traveling to or from Miami International, Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International, Southwest Florida International, Tampa International, and Orlando International airports are eligible to take advantage of the policy to modify or cancel their flight, as mentioned on the airline’s website.”
Allegiant Air will refund the payment automatically within 72 hours of receiving the cancellation notice for individuals whose flight with the airline has been cancelled. Passengers have the option to reschedule their flight for a later date without incurring any extra charges, and Allegiant Air has stated that flights in the Florida region may experience disruptions until Friday.
Travelers flying to Florida destinations until Friday will be exempted from paying the fare discrepancy if they reschedule their travel arrangements on or before October 3, as stated in a travel advisory published on Delta Air Lines’ website on Tuesday. However, any travel rebooked after October 3 will require payment of the fare difference.
According to the information on its official website, Spirit Airlines will waive the price discrepancy for Spirit passengers who are traveling to, from, or passing through Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Miami, Orlando, or Tampa if they reschedule their flight before October 3rd.
American Airlines declared on Monday that it will permit travelers to reschedule their flights without incurring any additional charges if their travel arrangements are disrupted by Hurricane Ian, such as in the western Caribbean and Florida. The airline further stated that it has introduced discounted, eleventh-hour fares to assist individuals who wish to evacuate via air, which includes exempting fees for two checked bags and eliminating restrictions and charges for pets traveling in the cabin.
The statement posted on Southwest Airlines’ website stated that travelers heading to their Florida destinations from now until Sunday have the option to modify their departure or origin to a different city in Florida at no extra cost. Additionally, they are able to reschedule their flight within 14 days of the initially planned travel date without incurring any additional fees.
As stated on its website, individuals who bought a plane ticket to or from United Airlines’ Florida locations before September 23rd and plan to travel prior to Friday, have the option to reschedule their flight at no additional cost, including any difference in fare and change fee, until October 8th, as per United Airlines.
According to the airline’s website, the upcoming journey needs to be finished by October 3rd. The airline is also providing customers who bought tickets prior to September 25th the opportunity to reschedule their flights to Florida destinations between September 25th and Friday, with no additional charges for changes or fare disparities. Virgin Atlantic Airlines is implementing this policy.