Hurricane Milton: Airlines Issue Alerts for Category-3 Storm

chamuditha prabhath jayasena -

Hurricane Milton: Airlines Issue Alerts for Category-3 Storm

Hurricane Milton, now a Category-3 storm, is set to make landfall in Florida on Wednesday. In response, airlines are allowing affected passengers to change their travel plans without incurring fees.

Just over a week after Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc in the Southeast, Hurricane Milton is heading for Florida's west coast, with wind speeds reaching 120 mph.

The National Hurricane Center's advisory noted, "Milton could still be a major hurricane upon reaching west-central Florida and will traverse central Florida as a hurricane through Thursday."

Flight Cancellations and Airport Closures

Florida airports are beginning to shut down as Hurricane Milton approaches. Tampa International Airport has been closed since 9 a.m. ET on Tuesday. St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport has canceled all flights for Wednesday and Thursday. Orlando International Airport will close Wednesday at 8 a.m. ET.

Miami International Airport is still operational but advising travelers to verify flight statuses, while Palm Beach International remains open but is closely monitoring the situation.

Airline Travel Advisories

Major U.S. airlines are issuing travel waivers for passengers traveling to or from impacted airports.

  • American Airlines allows rebooking without fees for flights booked before October 5.
  • Delta Air Lines allows rebooking for nine airports in Florida from October 7 to 10 without fees.
  • Frontier Airlines offers travel advisory for travel from October 7 to 10.
  • JetBlue Airways has a similar policy for eight airports, effective for flights booked before October 5.
  • United Airlines is permitting fee-free rebooking for flights booked before October 4 through October 19.
  • Southwest Airlines allows rebooking for impacted flights between October 7 and 10.
  • Spirit Airlines has a rebooking policy in place for six Florida airports for the same dates.

Avoiding Flight Disruptions

Travelers can take proactive steps to minimize flight disruptions during hurricane season. Monitor the NOAA National Forecast Map for weather updates up to three days before departure.

Consider changing your travel dates or routes to avoid disruptions, and strive to book early morning flights to reduce the chances of delays.

Stay updated through your airline's app and use flight-tracking services to follow your flight's status.