Hurricane Ian regains strength; Florida airports and theme parks remain closed, travel canceled
Editor’s Note: This post has been updated with new information.
Hurricane Ian made landfall on the southwest coast of Florida as a Category 4 hurricane Wednesday afternoon. The storm was downgraded to a tropical storm when it passed Florida, but has now strengthened into a hurricane once more.
Parts of Fort Myers and Naples are under water, with 2 million people reporting power outages, according to government and weather officials.
Sign up for our daily newsletter
Ian is currently heading towards North and South Carolina and Georgia, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Florida emergency officials have urged people across the state to stay vigilant, with Governor Ron DeSantis asking residents to check this site for advice.
Follow Flight knowledge.
As a result, several Florida airports have closed, including Tampa International Airport (TPA), which closed at 5 p.m. Tuesday; The airport announced on Thursday afternoon that it plans to reopen on Friday.
Besides, St. International Airport Pete-Clearwater (PIE) reopens Thursday morning.
Orlando International Airport (MCO), Melbourne Orlando International Airport (MLB), Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) and Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) also closed on Thursday.
Airports that remain open – particularly Miami International Airport (MIA), Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) – have advised travelers to check their status. their flights with airlines as close to the departure schedule as possible. , warning about possible delays and cancellations.
Some airlines have issued and expanded travel warnings ahead of the storm, allowing even people with non-refundable regular tickets to change their itinerary to avoid or leave unsafe areas.
According to the National Hurricane Center, while the storm has risen along Florida’s Gulf Coast, flooding from heavy rains is also expected in Central Florida.
Over the weekend, President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency for Florida ahead of the storm, with emergency management officials urging residents to begin preparations.
Related: Florida airports announce hurricane-related closures
Flights disrupted by Hurricane Ian
In addition to the airport closures mentioned, other flights to and from the area may be affected. Given the storm’s expected path into South Carolina, airlines are warning of possible delays or cancellations at Charleston International Airport (CHS), Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) and Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) on weekends.
Most major US airlines flying to Florida – including the nation’s four largest carriers American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines – have issued travel warnings for destinations that most likely influenced by Ian. The warnings include Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, and airports across Florida.
The three legacy US service providers have, as a general policy, change fee is waived on domestic flights and those originating in the United States and in many cases the Caribbean – basic economy class tickets are not included. However, during the travel warning period, even people with basic economy tickets can change their itinerary if their travel plans are covered by the warning.
Other carriers serving Florida—including Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines and Allegiant Air – also issued an exemption.
Be sure to check the specific terms of your airline’s warning so you know your deadlines for both rebooking and commencing your trip.
“All of these airports may experience flight delays related to these weather conditions,” Federal Aviation Administration’s Chris Citrola said in a video posted on social media Monday, in reference to the photo. Ian’s influence on airline operations in Florida.
“We’re going to be constantly monitoring that very closely to make sure we’re doing the best we can to keep people safe and leave those airports when that impact occurs.” Citrola added.
The FAA encourages those planning to travel by air in the coming days to contact their airline closely. For that reason, you should ensure that you are quite familiar with your airline’s app.
Delta warned that weather conditions in Florida could disrupt air travel out of the Northeast. Of course, there are many flights between Florida and key Northeast destinations like New York and Boston, and flight disruptions in Florida could easily spill over into other parts of the US.
Allegiant has bases in the Florida cities of Sarasota and St.Petersburg, which may experience further disruption in the coming days.
Air, sea and space logistics affected
As residents and visitors in the western Caribbean and Florida prepare for Ian’s effects, impending bad weather has affected many air, sea, and space activities in Florida.
Along the state’s Space Coast, NASA announced over the weekend that it would not proceed with the next launch attempt for Artemis I, double unmanned mission to the moon.
After mechanical problems derailed a launch attempt over Labor Day weekend, NASA has its eye on a potential launch on September 27. It’s unclear when the next launch attempt might happen.
Airport officials at Tampa International Airport said a post-storm damage assessment will begin as soon as it is safe to do so. They note that they will coordinate the airport’s reopening with partners “based on road safety, facility readiness, and staffing.”
Meanwhile, Orlando International Airport shut down at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. In addition, the airport is delaying some planned changes due to opening new terminal C, airport officials announced. Specifically, the airport is postponing JetBlue and Caribbean Airlines’ travel to the new terminal because of uncertainty about what operations are likely to be like over the next few days.
Related: What is it like on a cruise ship waiting for a storm at sea
Route problems
A day after Hurricane Ian hit the Florida coast as a Category 4 hurricane, three home ports for cruise ships in the state – Port Tampa Bay, Jacksonville’s JAXPort and Port Canaveral – remained closed to maritime traffic. .
The closures have forced five shipping lines to cancel sailings out of three ports scheduled for Thursday and Friday.
At the same time, two of Florida’s three largest ports – PortMiami and Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades – are back up and running with cruise lines expected to resume normally over the next few days.
The three ports closed are the closest to the route Ian took when it sailed to Florida and crossed the state on Wednesday and Thursday. The US Coast Guard and port officers at the three ports will assess the damage over the next day or two to determine if they are safe to reopen. But no timetable for the reopening of any ports has been established.
Related: Latest information on cruise train cancellations, delays
Amusement parks reopen
All theme parks in the Orlando and Tampa area are temporarily closed in preparation for Hurricane Ian. Now that Central Florida is on the other side of the storm and moving into the damage assessment and cleanup phase, local theme parks are reopening with the safety of their employees and safety as a priority. guest.
Here is the current reopening progress for theme parks in Central Florida:
- Disney World will begin reopening in phases on Friday, September 30, with opening times largely coming later in the day than usual. Some resorts and activities will remain closed on Friday.
- Universal Orlando plans to reopen on Friday, September 30 in a phased approach, potentially for hotel guests first.
- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay plans to reopen on Saturday, October 1.
- SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica Orlando and Discovery Cove plan to reopen on Saturday, October 1.
- Peppa Pig Theme Park Florida is scheduled to reopen on Saturday, October 1.
- Legoland Florida plans to reopen on Saturday, October 1.
Related: Here’s what happens when a storm hits Disney World
If you currently have a ticket affected by the closure, some parks will issue a refund and others will automatically extend the expiration date. Check with the park you plan to attend for details on ticket extensions, changes, and cancellations.
Trip cancellation and travel insurance
If you are considering traveling to a destination that could be affected in the coming days, there are important questions to consider, such as: TPG chats with a meteorologist when Hurricane Fiona gains strength:
- If you are currently in a destination that could be impacted by a storm system, what backup travel arrangements might you need if you want to leave earlier than planned?
- If you are planning a trip to the potentially affected area in the coming days, do you have a travel insurance policy that you purchased before the storm was named, and the terms are what? How long do you have to decide to cancel? (When a storm is named, it generally too late to purchase a policy that will cover your costs.)
Answering these questions by planning ahead can be crucial for your safety when you’re traveling and protecting the investment you’ve made during a trip.
Key point
Hurricane Ian disrupted travel, but the impact is expected to increase in the coming days as airports, airlines and other travel agencies assess the damage. This is a catastrophic storm and the impact will likely be felt for weeks or even months.
As residents and those across the state deal with the storm, now is the time to look ahead, whether you’re planning to travel to an area that could be impacted or want to end your trip. Go early in an area in the path of the storm.
Additional reporting by Clint Henderson, Caroline Tanner, Tarah Chieffi and Summer Hull.
Read more:
