air travel florida hurricane

Flying to Florida soon? Here is what you need to know ahead of Hurricane Ian

MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 10: American Airlines planes parked at their gates in the Miami International Airport on December 10, 2021 in Miami, Florida. The American Airlines company announced it will discontinue service to several international desti

ORLANDO, Fla. - Flights to and from Florida will likely be disrupted this week ahead of Hurricane Ian, which is expected to impact parts of Central Florida.

Airlines, including American, Delta, JetBlue, Spirit, and Southwest, are allowing travelers to change their travel plans without paying additional fees or fare differences.

Tampa International Airport (TPA) will suspend its operations on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, at 5 p.m. and will remain closed until it is safe to reopen. The main terminal, airsides, and parking garages will all be closed.

St. Pete-Clearwater International (PIE) said it would suspend its operations at 1 p.m. on Tuesday to comply with a mandatory evacuation order. 

Orlando International Airport (MCO) said it will be stopping commercial flights from flying out starting at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

American Airlines

American Airlines is waiving change fees for people flying to or out of several Florida airports, including Daytona Beach, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, and Panama City, between Sept. 23 and Oct. 1, 2022. 

Full list of airports:

• Daytona Beach, Florida (DAB)
• Destin / Fort Walton Beach, Florida (VPS)
• Fort Lauderdale, Florida (FLL)
• Fort Myers, Florida (RSW)
• Gainesville, Florida (GNV)
• Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands (GCM)
• Havana, Cuba (HAV)
• Jacksonville, Florida (JAX)
• Key West, Florida (EYW)
• Kingston, Jamaica (KIN)
• Melbourne, Florida (MLB)
• Miami, Florida (MIA)
• Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ)
• Orlando, Florida (MCO)
• Panama City, Florida (ECP)
• Pensacola, Florida (PNS)
• Sarasota / Bradenton, Florida (SRQ)
• Tallahassee, Florida (TLH)
• Tampa, Florida (TPA)
• West Palm Beach, Florida (PBI)

Delta Airlines

Delta Airlines is issuing travel waivers to people traveling to several Florida destinations, including Orlando, Gainesville, Daytona Beach, Tampa, and Tallahassee, between Sept. 25 - 30, 2022. Travel waiver means the fare difference will be waived  when rebooked travel happened on or before Oct. 3, 2022. For travel after Oct. 3, customers will have to pay the fare difference.

Travel waiver being offered to these destinations: 

• Daytona Beach, FL (DAB)
• Panama City, FL (ECP)
• Key West, FL (EYW)
• Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL)
• Gainesville, FL (GNV)
• Jacksonville, FL (JAX)
• Orlando, FL (MCO)
• Miami, FL (MIA)
• Melbourne, FL (MLB)
• West Palm Beach, FL (PBI)
• Pensacola, FL (PNS)
• Fort Myers, FL (RSW)
• Sarasota, FL (SRQ)
• Tallahassee, FL (TLH)
• Tampa, FL (TPA)
• Fort Walton Beach, FL (VPS)

JetBlue said it will waive change or cancel fees and fair differences for those planning to fly to or from certain airports in Florida ahead of Hurricane Ian. Flights have to be between Monday, Sept. 26 and Friday, Sept. 30 to or from the following airports:

Southwest is also allowing people who are scheduled to fly to or out of several Florida airports this week to rebook their travel fans without facing additional charges. Travel has to be rebooked within 14 days.

The waiver is being offered at these airports:

• Destin/Ft. Walton Beach, FL (VPS)
• Ft. Lauderdale, FL (FLL)
• Ft. Myers, FL (RSW)
• Panama City Beach, FL (ECP)
• Sarasota/Bradenton, FL (SRQ)

Spirit passengers traveling to or from Fort Myers, Orlando, or Tampa between Sept. 27-30, 2022, can rebook their travel without additional charges due to Hurricane Ian. Travel has to be rebooked by Oct. 3, 2022.

Is my flight canceled? How Tropical Storm Nicole is impacting air travel and what you're owed.

Tropical Storm Nicole started causing troubles for the skies long before it made landfall in Florida early Thursday.

Nearly 1,000 U.S. flights were canceled Wednesday and more than 1,300   have been canceled as of 2:30 p.m. ET Thursday, according to flight tracking website  FlightAware . Hundreds of those were scheduled to depart or arrive at Orlando International Airport, which closed Wednesday afternoon ahead of the storm.

The National Hurricane Center expects Nicole to move away from Florida Thursday night and head   over to Georgia and the Carolinas on Friday.

Air travelers headed to or from Florida and the southeast over the next few days should keep an eye on their flight status, and remember that they're entitled to a full refund, even on nonrefundable tickets, if the airline cancels their flight. 

Know your rights: What you're owed when your flight is canceled, delayed

What am I entitled to if an airline cancels my flight?

If an airline cancels your flight, you're entitled to a full refund even if you purchased a nonrefundable ticket. The Department of Transportation recently introduced a dashboard that outlines what major airlines offer passengers in the event of a delay or cancellation. 

In general, experts also recommend purchasing travel insurance for every trip, which can help you recoup some costs if something goes wrong. 

Are Florida airports open? 

Orlando International Airport (MCO) remains closed to all commercial flights until further notice. Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) and Melbourne Orlando International Airport (MLB), which had closed Wednesday, both reopened Thursday. 

Change of plans: Tropical Storm Nicole disrupts major cruise line itineraries

Other airports in the state, including Miami (MIA), Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and Tampa (TPA) said they are monitoring the situation and advised passengers to check with their airline for the most up-to-date information. 

Tropical Storm Nicole airline waivers

Many airlines are providing travelers headed to Florida extra flexibility to adjust their travel plans. Here are what many carriers are offering. 

►  American Airlines  is offering a waiver that covers most Florida airports, as well as some destinations in the Caribbean and Georgia. The waiver allows passengers booked on existing tickets for travel through Nov. 13 to push their trip to as late as Nov. 18 for no fee, so long as the changes are made by Nov. 13. American is also capping fares on new itineraries to and from airports covered by the waiver through Nov. 11.

►  Delta Air Lines  is offering a waiver that covers most Florida airports, as well as some destinations in the Caribbean and Georgia. The waiver allows passengers booked on existing tickets for travel through Nov. 13 to push their trip to as late as Nov. 16 without paying a fare difference or change fee, so long as changes are made by Nov. 16. Delta does not charge change fees on most tickets. 

►  United Airlines  is offering a waiver that covers some Florida and Caribbean airports. The waiver allows passengers on tickets booked on or before Nov. 6 for travel through Nov. 11 to push their trip to as late as Nov. 18 without paying a change fee or fare difference, so long as changes are made by Nov. 18. 

► Southwest  Airlines  is offering a waiver that covers some airports in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. The waiver allows passengers on tickets for travel through Nov. 11 to push their trip to up to 14 days without paying a fare difference. Southwest does not charge change fees.

► JetBlue  is offering waivers to customers scheduled to travel to, from or through Orlando , West Palm Beach and Tampa through Friday. The policy will allow those customers to push their itineraries to as late as Nov. 17 without paying a fare difference or change fee. A previously-announced waiver covers passengers to, from or through Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami and West Palm Beach through Thursday. Those customers can change their flights to Nov. 13 or sooner without paying a change fee or fare difference.

► Spirit  Airlines  is offering waivers to passengers traveling to, from or through Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Miami. The Orlando waiver allows passengers booked on flights through Nov. 11 to push their travel to Nov. 16 or sooner without paying a fare difference or change fee. The Fort Lauderdale and Miami waivers allow passengers booked on flights through Nov. 10 to push their travel to Nov. 14 or sooner without paying a change fee or fare difference. 

► Alaska  Airlines  is offering a waiver  that allows passengers traveling to, from or through certain Florida and South Carolina airports through Nov. 11 to rebook their travel to take place on or before Nov. 18 without paying a change fee or fare difference. 

► Frontier  Airlines  is offering waivers to passengers traveling to, from or through Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, West Palm Beach, Tampa and Sarasota. The waiver allows those passengers scheduled to travel on or before Nov. 11 to adjust their itineraries to fly on or before Nov. 16 without paying a change fee or fare difference. 

► Avelo  Airlines  is offering waivers to passengers traveling to, from or through Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. The waiver allows those passengers scheduled to travel on or before Nov. 10 to adjust their itineraries to fly on or before Nov. 19 without paying a change fee or fare difference. 

► Sun Country  Airlines  is offering a waiver to passengers traveling to, from or through some Florida airports. The waiver allows those passengers scheduled to travel on or before Nov. 11 to adjust their itineraries to fly on or before Nov. 18 without paying a change fee or fare difference. 

Contributing: Eve Chen, USA TODAY

1,000 flights canceled as Hurricane Idalia disrupts air travel

The faa said the storm could have widespread effects as the last big holiday weekend of the summer approaches.

Airlines canceled more than 1,000 flights Wednesday as Hurricane Idalia closed airports in Florida and disrupted air travel across the South in advance of a busy holiday weekend.

Carriers, airports and the Federal Aviation Administration began preparing for the storm’s arrival early in the week, with Tampa International Airport preemptively shutting down Tuesday as teams moved aircraft and other equipment out of harm’s way.

Tracking Hurricane Idalia

Southwest Airlines, which has a heavy presence in Florida, scrubbed more than 220 flights Wednesday with Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines canceling 160 and American Airlines canceling 150, according to data from tracking service FlightAware.

The FAA said Wednesday the storm could have effects beyond the immediate area where it made landfall and urged travelers to check with airlines before heading to the airport.

Hurricane Idalia makes landfall in Florida as a Category 3 storm

Southwest told customers that flights to and from almost a dozen destinations in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina could be disrupted through Thursday and that it would allow passengers to rebook. Other airlines have issued similar waivers.

Tampa airport executives said the closure stemmed from the facility being vulnerable to storm surge, despite being outside the storm’s direct path. But the airport ultimately suffered minimal damage from the storm, with flooding on the airfield not affecting runways.

The airport was preparing to reopen to incoming flights Wednesday afternoon, before restoring outbound service in the early hours of Thursday.

“TPA is fortunate to have avoided the worst effects of such a dangerous storm, after acting in an abundance of caution to protect the safety of our passengers, employees and facilities,” airport chief executive Joe Lopano said in a statement.

The FAA is expecting a busy travel period Wednesday and Thursday as flights ramp up in advance of the Labor Day weekend. The agency expects traffic to peak Thursday with more than 52,000 flights. It wasn’t clear early Wednesday what effect the storm might have on travel for the holiday.

Amtrak also canceled a handful of trains Wednesday originating in Florida and bound for the state, and shortened other routes to avoid areas hit by the storm.

More on Hurricane Idalia

The latest: Idalia made landfall in Florida Wednesday morning as a Category 3 hurricane and has moved north through Georgia and toward the Carolinas. It’s brought intense storm surge, flooding and damaging winds.

Where is Idalia having the greatest impact? Here’s our forecast for what to expect next in eight key cities .

Path tracker: We’re tracking Hurricane Idalia in maps as it moves across Florida.

Storm surge: Waters are predicted to swell up to 15 feet in some spots, potentially causing flooding devastating flooding, the National Weather Service warns. Here’s an explanation of what storm surge is .

How to prepare: Our guide will show you how to keep your family and home safe before a hurricane hits, what to do if you’re caught in the middle, and how to pick up when you return.

• Tropical Storm Idalia hits South Carolina, causing flooding as Florida assesses damage August 31, 2023 Tropical Storm Idalia hits South Carolina, causing flooding as Florida assesses damage August 31, 2023
• Tracking the path of Tropical Storm Idalia August 31, 2023 Tracking the path of Tropical Storm Idalia August 31, 2023
• Where is Idalia hitting hardest as it heads inland? The forecast for 8 cities. August 30, 2023 Where is Idalia hitting hardest as it heads inland? The forecast for 8 cities. August 30, 2023

Hurricane Idalia leaves behind a travel mess as shuttered Florida airports reopen

Hurricane Idalia rumbled out of Florida on Wednesday, but getting in and out of the Sunshine State remained a major headache for regular air travelers.

Most of the half-dozen major Florida airports that shut down operations when the massive storm was menacing the state reopened for business.

But the Federal Aviation Administration warned that air travel was still feeling the after-effects of Idalia.

"Hurricane #Idalia is causing flight cancellations as it makes landfall in Florida," the agency warned on its official Twitter feed as Idalia was moving into south Georgia. "Severe weather can affect flights beyond the immediate area."

Southwest Airlines’ schedule was the most affected by Idalia, with 220 cancellations and 300 delays, the flight tracking website FlightAware showed.

United, Delta and American Airlines reported about 700 delays combined and roughly 330 cancellations, according to FlightAware.

Still, Tampa International Airport  announced online that it was reopening at 4 p.m. Wednesday, but only for incoming flights.

"Departing flights and normal operations will resume early Thursday morning," the TIA post said.

Tampa International Airport CEO Joe Lopano said they dodged a very big bullet.

“TPA is fortunate to have avoided the worst effects of such a dangerous storm, after acting in an abundance of caution to protect the safety of our passengers, employees and facilities,” Lopano said in a statement. “We’re focused now on returning to full operational capacity to continue serving our community and to assist in recovery efforts for our fellow Floridians.”

The much-smaller St.  Pete-Clearwater International Airport  announced it too would reopen, but at 3 p.m. Wednesday.

"Flights to resume Thursday, check with airlines for status," the airport announced on its Twitter feed .

The Sarasota-Bradenton Airport resumed business on Wednesday morning, but warned travelers to check with their airlines for the latest updates.

Jacksonville International Airport posted a similar message on its official website .

"Travelers should contact their airlines for rebooking options," it said.

But the Gainesville Regional Airport remained closed Wednesday and gave no indication on its feed when it would reopen.

Tallahassee International Airport also remained closed Wednesday "with normal operations resuming Thursday morning," according to the official Tallahassee government website .

Corky Siemaszko is a senior reporter for NBC News Digital.

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Airports, Theme Parks Reopen As Florida Deals With Hurricane Ian Aftermath

As the hurricane moves out of Florida, airports and theme parks are assessing the impact of the storm and beginning to reopen.

Courtesy of Bloomberg  / Getty Contributor

As Hurricane Ian left Floridans without power and disrupted travel plans — the storm heads north toward the Carolinas and is expected to make landfall again as a Category 1 hurricane.

The Charleston airport was forced to close on Sept. 30 after high winds came through the area, the airport is expected to reopen Oct. 1, according to a tweet.

Tampa and Orlando airports have officially reopened and flights have resumed, although passengers should check with their airline, according to twitter accounts for each respective airport.

Southwest Florida airport still remains closed to the public, including rental car companies, according to a statement released online.

Several airlines issued storm waivers for this week, including Delta Air Lines , Southwest Airlines, American Airlines , United Airlines , JetBlue , and Spirit Airlines for flights to airports across the state for travel through at least Oct. 3.

As of Sept. 30, Disney had reopened its park along with Disney Springs with a few exceptions. "Copper Creek Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and the Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort are temporarily closed through Sept. 30 due to the weather. Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa will be closed until Monday, Oct. 3. Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground will remain temporarily closed at this time," according to a statement shared with Travel + Leisure.

Many cruises sailing through the Western Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico have also been affected by the storm. The Norwegian Sky has a rerouted itinerary due to potential impacts from Hurricane Ian, along with MSC Seashore, The Carnival Ecstasy, and Carnival Glory, according to CNN.

A Carnival Paradise sailing leaving from Tampa on Thursday has been canceled and will extend its current sailing while the port of Tampa remains closed. The Carnival Liberty scheduled to depart from Port Carnaval has also been canceled and sailings from Mobile, Ala., Miami, and New Orleans will have rerouted itineraries, CBS News reported .

Hurricane Ian is the latest storm to come out of the Atlantic after Hurricane Fiona swept through just a week ago, causing severe damage to Puerto Rico and affecting other Caribbean islands. 

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Tropical Storm Nicole disrupts air travel in Florida

By Howard Hardee 2022-11-10T20:07:00+00:00

Hundreds of US flights have been cancelled as Tropical Storm Nicole pummels Central Florida with strong winds and heavy rain, disrupting operations at several airport and forcing the shutdown of Orlando International airport.

“If you’re flying in to or out of the Florida market, you can expect significant travel delays,” the Federal Aviation Administration said on 10 November. “Currently, Orlando international airport is closed to all aircraft except for military, emergency and cargo operations.”

Source: Shutterstock

Governments have begun to restrict flights to several African countries

Orlando International ceased commercial and private operations at 16:00 local time on 9 November in advance of the approaching storm, forcing the cancellation of 720 flights through 10 November, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware.com.

Palm Beach International airport was closed for nearly 24h, halting commercial operations at 09:00 on 9 November and reopening at 08:00 the following day. Airlines cancelled 130 flights there.

Tampa International airport remained open – though 84 flights had been cancelled – the morning of 10 November but warned of “increasing delays and cancellations due to the storm”. The airport authority urged air travellers to check with airlines for timely information.

Both Miami International and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International airports remained open as the storm made landfall further north, though dozens of flights out of South Florida were cancelled.

At Jacksonville International, 35 flights had been cancelled as of 10 November. Meanwhile, Sarasota Bradenton International airport – which was forced to close in late September due to Hurricane Ian – has been less impacted by the tropical storm, with only a handful of cancellations, according to FlightAware.com. 

The latest weather-related travel disruptions come just weeks after the deadly and destructive Hurricane Ian, which significantly impacted commercial airline operations in the Sunshine State.

In just one example, Miramar, Florida-based Spirit Airlines cancelled about 550 flights in September and 400 in October due to Hurricane Ian, the airline said during its third-quarter earnings call on 27 October. Spirit estimates the disaster-related disruptions resulted in a $10 million loss spread evenly between the third and fourth quarters.

• Spirit Airlines

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Ian likely to have severe impact on Florida air travel

Hurricane Ian’s landfall could affect travel plans for anyone trying to fly in and out of the Sunshine State in the coming days, even though it doesn’t appear that South Florida will get the worst of the storm.

Flights at Palm Beach International Airport on Monday saw few cancellations and delays, but that may change this week.

Airlines report they are moving several planes from Florida to hubs like Charlotte and Atlanta to protect their jetliners.

At PBIA, that may result in more flight cancellations or delays as the storm nears Florida.

Some airlines are emailing and texting passengers to notify them that they can change their flights without fees, allowing them to change their plans before or after the storm.

American Airlines passenger Janet Kastl already extended her stay but was headed back to Seattle ahead of Hurricane Ian.

"I was going to leave last week, and the push alert simply said they were expecting weather and the flight could be delayed or canceled or rescheduled," Kastl said.

WFLX talked with a travel agent who said passengers who have their flights canceled because of the storm may have a difficult time finding a flight out of town.

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Hurricane makes second landfall; Is it safe to travel to Florida?

Hurricane Ian continues to disrupt travel as it churns across the Southeast, making its second landfall today in South Carolina as a Category 1 storm at approximately 2:05 p.m. ET, per the National Hurricane Center .

The National Weather Service warns of life-threatening storm surge and hurricane conditions from Georgia to North Carolina this afternoon and evening. Meanwhile, Florida begins the cleanup process two days after Ian plowed into the Gulf Coast as a Category 4 storm. Popular vacation areas like Fort Myers, Naples and Sanibel Island were hard hit, while heavy rain plagued many parts of the state, including Central Florida and parts of Florida's eastern coast.

So what does all of this mean for travel to and through the area? Here's what we know:

Which Florida airports are operating as normal?

Airline service to Florida began to pick up Friday as several of the state's airports along the storm's path resumed or announced plans to resume operations after closing for Hurricane Ian.

Tampa International Airport (TPA) resumed operations on Friday at 10 a.m.

At Orlando International Airport (MCO), the state's busiest airport in 2021, operations were resuming at noon. However, many of the day's flights are still showing as canceled as delayed — so double-check your flight's status if you are planning to fly in or out in the coming days.

Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) reopened to both air carriers and general aviation traffic on Thursday evening, though both American Airlines and Delta Air Lines have canceled all of Friday's flights. Southwest Airlines plans to operate some flights later Friday. An American Airlines spokesperson told TPG on Thursday that the carrier does not expect to resume operations there until Sunday.

Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers is, as of now, formally closed until Wednesday, though that date could be pushed forward — or the closure could be extended. United Airlines on Thursday announced a waiver for its flights to and from RSW until Oct. 11.

Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB) is formally closed until Monday, though that is also subject to change.

About 2,000 flights that were scheduled to depart Florida's airports were canceled between Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, according to FlightAware data.

Meanwhile, as Ian bolts toward the Southeastern U.S., airports in that region are beginning to announce their own closures.

For example, Charleston International Airport (CHS) formally closed on Friday morning as Ian's winds exceeded 35 knots at the airport — the threshold for a closure. Boeing, which assembles its 787 at the North Charleston, South Carolina, airport, announced in a tweet on Thursday afternoon that it will suspend operations until Sunday.

Related: What it's like on a cruise ship that is waiting out the storm at sea

Current status of cruise line operations

Three home ports for cruise ships in the state — Port Tampa Bay, Jacksonville's JAXPort and Port Canaveral — remain closed to marine traffic in the wake of Ian.

The closures have forced five cruise lines to cancel voyages out of the three ports that had been 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 open with cruise departures scheduled to take place as normal over the next few days.

The three ports that are closed were the closest to the track that Ian took as it barreled into Florida and crossed the state on Wednesday and Thursday. The U.S. Coast Guard and port workers at the three ports will do damage assessments over the next day or two to determine when they may be safe to reopen.

Related: The latest on cruise ship cancellations, delays

Orlando theme parks begin to reopen

All Orlando- and Tampa-area theme parks closed temporarily 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.

That said, many parks suffered damage, debris, flooding and high water levels. Even as area theme parks do reopen, select attractions and experiences may be unavailable.

Additionally, the parks may not be fully staffed in the coming days, since some staffers live in areas that saw extensive flooding and damage, affecting their ability to come to work.

Here is a current reopening timeline for Central Florida theme parks:

• Disney World began a phased reopening on Friday. All four theme parks and Disney Springs will reopen Friday on a modified schedule, though Disney's Typhoon Lagoon water park will not reopen until Sunday. Some resorts and lodging types, such as Fort Wilderness, remain closed.
• Universal Orlando will reopen to hotel guests only on Friday. Further updates will be provided via its website and social media.
• Busch Gardens Tampa Bay plans to reopen Saturday.
• SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica Orlando and Discovery Cove plan to reopen Saturday.
• Peppa Pig Theme Park Florida plans to reopen Saturday.
• Legoland Florida plans to reopen Saturday.

Related: Here's what happens when a hurricane comes to Disney World

If you currently have tickets affected by the closures, some parks are giving refunds while others are automatically extending expiration dates. Check with the park you had plans to attend for details.

Is it safe to travel to Florida?

If you have an upcoming trip scheduled to Florida, you'll want to stay abreast of the developments in your specific area, as the fallout from the damage from Hurricane Ian largely depends on the area you are planning on visiting.

The most severely affected areas — including Naples, Fort Myers and the islands of Sanibel and Captiva — are unlikely to resume normal tourist operations for an extended period of time. Representatives of the Collier County Sheriff's Office and Lee County governments in the area said Thursday that they were focused in the near term on things like recovery efforts and assessing damage to infrastructure like bridges.

Officials from Cape Coral , which is just southeast of Fort Myers, were also urging people to stay off the roads on Thursday.

In Sarasota, which sits between Tampa and Fort Myers Beach, damage assessments were also underway.

"We are in close communication with government officials to understand when it will be completely safe to welcome visitors again to our destination. Efforts are currently underway to ensure roadways are clear and all critical assessments are made," a spokesperson for Visit Sarasota said. "It is our number one priority to continue to provide the enjoyable experiences we are known for, in the safest environment possible."

For travelers who had planned on visiting Disney World, Universal Orlando and other Central Florida locations that have begun a phased reopening, Orlando Police officers said Thursday that they continued to asses flooding in the area.

"The City of Orlando experienced historic flooding throughout the city due to the amount of rain. Many areas of the city experienced water in excess of 14 inches," Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and the City of Orlando said in a joint media release on Sept. 29. "This water must recede naturally reiterating the shelter in place precautions as these bodies of water can be electrically charged and/or contain debris."

Visit Orlando , the city's official tourism organization, is urging travelers with plans to visit Orlando to reach out to the organization's Vacation Planners for more information, which can be reached via phone, email or live chat here .

Just about the only city affected that has issued a clear statement indicating it is safe for travelers to resume travel thus far is Tampa.

"Tampa was extraordinarily lucky, and Mayor Jane Castor and other leaders are busy mobilizing resources to help our neighbors south of us," said a spokesperson for the City of Tampa. "Tampa is absolutely safe for tourists."

There, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will host the Kansas City Chiefs for a home game as scheduled on Sunday night.

Here are some resources for the most up-to-date information on these locations:

• City of Orlando Storm Tracking
• City of Orlando Twitter .
• Orlando International Airport Twitter .
• Tampa Office of Emergency Management .
• Lee County Public Safety Facebook page .
• Visit Florida .

Bottom line

In the hardest hit areas, including Naples, Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel, expect reopening efforts to take some time as those communities grapple with immense damage.

However, in Orlando, the main theme parks tourist attractions -- and the infrastructure that supports them -- will be mostly back up and running in the coming days, with a phased opening already underway.

As we look into the weekend, expect the storm's immediate impacts to shift to the Carolinas and potentially beyond.

While the airlines, theme parks, and more have activated more flexible change and cancellation rules, remember that if you booked an trip with a credit card that provides for some built-in trip insurance , look at the terms of those benefits to learn what expenses you may be able to recoup in the event of any non-refundable expenses you may have incurred.

Although this goes without saying, you should not travel to any hurricane-impacted part of a state where local officials are urging residents to stay off the roads. Check back with TPG regularly for the latest information on what is open and what remains closed.

Additional reporting by Clint Henderson, Caroline Tanner, Tarah Chieffi, Gene Sloan, Ethan Klapper and Summer Hull.

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Airports, airlines announcing travel disruptions as Hurricane Ian aims for Florida

Companies, airports taking to the internet to announce hurricane ian's passenger impacts.

Florida anticipated a storm like Hurricane Ian: Sarasota Mayor Erik Arroyo

Sarasota Mayor Erik Arroyo, R-Fla., tells 'Varney & Co.' the state has spent years training for a potentially 'catastrophic' storm like Hurricane Ian.

While Floridians prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Ian, major airlines and airports are announcing expected travel disruptions to and from the Sunshine State.

Many airlines, including American, Delta, JetBlue, Spirit and Southwest, are allowing travelers to change their travel plans without paying additional fees or fare differences, FOX 35 Orlando reports.

Tampa International Airport (TPA) will suspend all operations on Tuesday, Sept. 27, at 5 p.m. The airport will be closed to all visitors at that time. 

Tampa International Airport will suspend all operations at 5 p.m. on Sept. 27, 2022. (George Rose/Getty Images / Getty Images)

FLORIDA THEME PARKS ANNOUNCE PLANS, PREPAREDNESS FOR HURRICANE IAN

St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) will close at 1 p.m. Sept. 27 due to mandatory evacuation orders from Pinellas County and remain closed until the evacuation order is lifted. Contact airlines for updates.

Orlando International Airport (MCO) tweeted: "Hurricane Ian Commercial operations at MCO will cease at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday [Sept. 28]. Entry to all parking facilities will be closed at that same period. Please contact your airline for flight updates."

Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) tweeted that Southwest Airlines has canceled all flights for Sept. 28 and that customers should go to the airline's website for more information and to rebook.

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES COO STEPPING DOWN AMID LEADERSHIP CHANGES

A Southwest Airlines plane approaches the runway at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, on April 2, 2022. (Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Southwest Airlines

Southwest is also allowing people who are scheduled to fly to or out of several Florida airports this week to rebook their travel fans without facing additional charges. Travel has to be rebooked within 14 days.

The waiver is being offered at these airports:

• Destin-Fort Walton Beach, FL (VPS)
• Ft. Lauderdale, FL (FLL)
• Ft. Myers, FL (RSW)
• Havana, Cuba (HAV)
• Jacksonville, FL (JAX)
• Miami, FL (MIA)
• Orlando, FL (MCO)
• Panama City, FL (ECP)
• Pensacola, FL (PNS)
• Sarasota/Bradenton, FL (SRQ)
• Tampa, FL (TPA)
• West Palm Beach, FL (PBI)

Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines is issuing travel waivers to people traveling to several Florida destinations, including Orlando, Gainesville, Daytona Beach, Tampa and Tallahassee, between Sept. 25 and Sept. 30, 2022. Travel waiver means the fare difference will be waived when rebooked travel happened on or before Oct. 3, 2022. For travel after Oct. 3, customers will have to pay the fare difference.

Travel waiver being offered to these destinations: 

• Daytona Beach, FL (DAB)
• Key West, FL (EYW)
• Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL)
• Gainesville, FL (GNV)
• Melbourne, FL (MLB)
• Fort Myers, FL (RSW)
• Sarasota–Bradenton, FL (SRQ)
• Tallahassee, FL (TLH)

JetBlue said it will waive change or cancel fees and fair differences for those planning to fly to or from certain airports in Florida ahead of Hurricane Ian. Flights have to be between Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, and Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, to or from the following airports:

• Sarasota, FL (SRQ)

American Airlines passenger jets prepare for departure at Boston Logan International Airport in Boston on July 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File / AP Newsroom)

American Airlines

American Airlines is waiving change fees for people flying to or out of several Florida airports, including Daytona Beach, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa and Panama City, between Sept. 23, 2022, and Oct. 1, 2022.

Full list of airports:

• Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands (GCM)
• Kingston, Jamaica (KIN)
• Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ)

United Airlines

The change fee and any difference in fare will be waived for covered United flights, as long as travel is rescheduled in the originally ticketed cabin (any fare class) and between the same cities as originally ticketed. View reservation and select change flight to search for alternate flights.

This option is for travelers who booked their original tickets by Sept. 23 for travel through Sept. 30, and applies to 11 Florida airports. They must rebook by Oct. 8.

Spirit passengers traveling to or from Fort Myers, Orlando or Tampa between Sept. 27, 2022, and Sept. 30, 2022, can rebook their travel without additional charges due to Hurricane Ian. Travel has to be rebooked by Oct. 3, 2022.

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Customers who are ticketed to travel between Sept. 27, 2022, and Sept. 30, 2022, and who purchased tickets on or before Sept. 26, 2022, may make one itinerary change — rules/restrictions regarding standard change fees, advance purchase, day or time applications, blackouts, and minimum or maximum stay requirements will be waived. Travel must be completed no later than Oct. 10, 2022. Origin and destination cities may be changed. Customers whose flights are canceled may request a refund.

With the expected impact to travel conditions from Hurricane Ian moving through the southeastern United States for Florida, Frontier has enacted the following guidelines aimed at assisting customers scheduled to travel between Sept. 27, 2022, and Sept. 30, 2022, to/from/through the following cities:

Watch CBS News

Hurricane Idalia shutters Florida airports and cancels more than 1,000 flights

By Elizabeth Napolitano

Updated on: August 30, 2023 / 7:59 PM EDT / MoneyWatch

Hurricane Idalia is causing major flight disruptions across Florida and beyond after making landfall on the state's Gulf Coast on Wednesday. 

The storm, which made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane , by Wednesday morning had canceled more than 1,000 flights and delayed nearly 900 more traveling to and from U.S. airports,  data  from flight-status tracker FlightAware shows. 

The hurricane has since been downgraded to a Category 1 about 2 1/2 hours after landfall, as wind speeds decreased to 90 mph. Its rating was previously changed to Category 2 roughly an hour after landfall. 

Three major Florida airports, including Tampa International Airport, St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport and Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport closed on Tuesday ahead of the storm, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) Tuesday that it was re-routing and limiting flights in Florida. 

Tampa International Airport is reopening to incoming flights only on Wednesday at 4 p.m. Eastern time, it said in a post on social media. The airport plans to resume full operations at 3 a.m. Eastern time on Thursday, according to a notice on its website .

"TPA is fortunate to have avoided the worst effects of such a dangerous storm, after acting in an abundance of caution to protect the safety of our passengers, employees and facilities," Tampa International Airport CEO Joe Lopano said in a statement on the site. "We're focused now on returning to full operational capacity to continue serving our community and to assist in recovery efforts for our fellow Floridians."

🚨 TPA TO REOPEN TO ARRIVING FLIGHTS ONLY AT 4 PM TODAY 🚨   ⛈️ TPA sustained minimal damage from Hurricane Idalia   ✅ Departing flights and normal operations will resume early Thursday morning   ✈️ Please check directly with your airline for the latest flight updates pic.twitter.com/cKwtnTc5ZY — Tampa International Airport ✈️ (@FlyTPA) August 30, 2023

In a  12:30 p.m. press conference , Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said the eye of the storm had left Florida. But storm surge was expected to continue and worsen as the tide rose later in the day. 

Gainesville Airport and Tallahassee Airport, both of which closed on Tuesday, will reopen Thursday "first thing in the morning," DeSantis said in the briefing. 

Other area airports, such as Miami International Airport and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, are experiencing heavy travel disruptions, the FAA's airport event tracker shows. 

Idalia touched down  in Florida's Big Bend region early Wednesday, whipping the state's Gulf Coast with maximum sustained winds of 125 miles per hour.

Southwest Airlines  on Wednesday reported that 211, or 5%, of its flights have been canceled while another 202 trips were delayed, according to FlightAware data. The hurricane has also affected flight schedules for Delta and American Airlines , each of which has reported more than 200 combined flight cancellations and delays, the data shows. 

Those airlines, alongside other major American carriers, such as United , have issued travel advisories for the storm and are allowing affected travelers to rebook their flights for free, their respective websites show. 

Flights aren't the only form of travel Hurricane Idalia has thwarted. Amtrak has canceled passenger train trips for 10 of its East Coast routes scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, the company's service alert shows.  

• Flight Cancelations
• Flight Delays
• Flight Cancellations

Elizabeth Napolitano is a freelance reporter at CBS MoneyWatch, where she covers business and technology news. She also writes for CoinDesk. Before joining CBS, she interned at NBC News' BizTech Unit and worked on The Associated Press' web scraping team.

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How to Handle Flight Delays and Cancellations

Know what airlines can and cannot offer, and where you can go to manage flight changes and updates.

By Christine Chung

• Aug. 29, 2023

With weather being one of the leading causes of air travel delays this year, here’s how to prepare for delays or cancellations during hurricane season.

Before you travel , download your airline’s app, which often shows an aircraft’s location and also posts timely updates on a flight’s status or gate changes. Updates may appear here before anywhere else.

The day of your flight, you can also scan FlightAware , a flight-tracking service accessible by app and website , to get a sense of delays and cancellations across major airports.

The Transportation Department’s airline cancellation and delay dashboard is another helpful resource that spells out what 10 of the larger domestic airlines offer passengers.

When information isn’t always readily available online, experts suggest calling an airline’s customer service for more guidance.

In the United States, if your flight is canceled , for whatever reason, all airlines must either rebook you on another flight or give you a prompt refund, even if you have a nonrefundable ticket, according to the Transportation Department .

In the European Union , flight cancellations or long delays may give passengers the right to either a refund or a replacement flight. The rule covers all passengers , regardless of nationality, and outbound flights from and within the European Union, including on U.S. carriers. On flights into E.U. countries, it applies only to E.U. carriers.

AirHelp, a Berlin-based flight compensation company, has a comprehensive guide outlining passenger rights in many countries.

That said, when it comes to covering meal or accommodations because of weather-related flight changes, you may be out of luck . Any compensation or help offered by the airlines hinges on whether the reason for the cancellation lies within a carrier’s control, such as staffing or maintenance issues. Air traffic control woes and the weather are not.

It may feel unfair, but “If your flight is canceled because of a thunderstorm,” said Scott Keyes, the founder of Going.com , a website that sends alerts for travel deals, “don’t expect the airline to cover your meals or accommodations.”

In response to Hurricane Idalia, major domestic carriers are offering free rebooking options through Thursday to affected travelers with flights at airports in the southeastern United States, including Orlando International Airport and Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport in Georgia.

United Airlines said it had added extra flights from Orlando International Airport and Sarasota Bradenton International Airport.

Christine Chung is a travel reporter for The Times. She previously covered breaking news. She joined The Times in November 2021. More about Christine Chung

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Blizzard or Nor’easter?: What’s the difference between these storms? How do you stay safe in either? Here’s what to know .

Tornado Alerts: A tornado warning demands instant action. Here’s what to do if one comes your way .

On the Road:  Safety experts shared some advice  on how snow-stranded drivers caught in a snowstorm can keep warm and collected. Their top tip? Be prepared.

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Evacuating Pets: When disaster strikes, household pets’ lives are among the most vulnerable. You can avoid the worst by planning ahead .

Bad weather impacting flights at South Florida airports, including PBIA

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Bad weather is causing flight cancellations and delays of arrivals and departures at three South Florida airports, including Palm Beach International Airport, on Wednesday afternoon.

FlightAware is showing 14 cancellations and 51 delays in departures at PBIA and 14 cancellations and 65 delays in arrivals, as of 9 p.m. Wednesday.

Elsewhere in Florida, FlightAware lists Miami International Airport with 37 cancellations and 203 delays for departures, and 32 cancellations and 214 delays for arrivals. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport has 35 cancellations and 166 delays for departures, and 32 cancellations and 183 delays for arrivals.

Orlando International Airport had 58 canceled departures and 56 canceled arrivals.

In all, there was 6,707 delays and 1,664 cancellations in and out of the United States, as of Wednesday evening.

PBIA's website in real time lists a total of 7 departure cancellations and 15 departure delays, and 12 arrival cancellations and 18 arrival delays through Thursday morning. This information doesn't reflect flights that already departed or arrive.

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Southwest flight attendant, passenger injured during severe turbulence as plane makes emergency landing.

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A Southwest flight made an emergency landing in Florida on Wednesday after encountering severe turbulence over the Gulf of Mexico, causing injuries to two people onboard.

Southwest Airlines told FOX Weather in a statement that Flight 4273 was diverted to Tampa International on Wednesday morning because of turbulence.

According to Southwest, two people were injured and required medical treatment after landing.

According to data from  Flightaware.com , the flight departed New Orleans ,  Louisiana,   at 6:44 a.m. and was traveling to Orlando International Airport.

The flight landed at Tampa International at 8:56 a.m. 

“The Captain declared an emergency, a requirement to deviate from a filed flight plan, and also requested that paramedics be available when the aircraft arrived to assess any potential injury,” Southwest said in the statement.

“Two people were transported to a Tampa Bay area medical facility.”

Radar showed intense storms over the Gulf of Mexico about halfway through the flight from New Orleans. Florida and much of the East Coast have been experiencing thunderstorms and severe weather throughout Wednesday as a cold front moves east.

FOX 8 New Orleans  reported a passenger and a flight attendant were the people who were injured.

Turbulence is a sudden shift in airflow.

Those irregular motions in the atmosphere create air currents that can jostle passengers on an airplane.

They can even be severe enough to throw an airplane out of control.

Southwest said customers arrived in Orlando four-and-a-half hours behind schedule.

“With our apologies for their delayed journey, there is no priority higher than the safest operation of every flight,” the airline said.

Once the aircraft was on the ground, it was looked over by mechanics, according to Southwest.

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Object that crashed through Florida roof may have come from ISS

Published Apr 3, 2024 11:21 AM PDT | Updated Apr 4, 2024 4:23 AM PDT

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A mysterious object, suspected to be space junk, crash landed through a home in Naples, Florida, on March 8. NASA is investigating the origins of the object, believed to be debris from the ISS.

April 2 (UPI) -- NASA is analyzing a 2-pound object that crashed through a  Florida man 's roof to determine whether it came from the International Space Station.

Alejandro Otero said the object  crashed through the roof  of his Naples home at 2:34 p.m. local time on March 8 and the sound was recorded by his Ring security camera.

Hello. Looks like one of those pieces missed Ft Myers and landed in my house in Naples. Tore through the roof and went thru 2 floors. Almost his my son. Can you please assist with getting NASA to connect with me? I’ve left messages and emails without a response. pic.twitter.com/Yi29f3EwyV — Alejandro Otero (@Alejandro0tero) March 15, 2024

U.S. Space Command recorded the reentry of a piece of debris from the International Space Station around the same time over the Gulf of Mexico with a trajectory taking it toward southwest Florida.

The debris was a cargo pallet of depleted batteries that had originally been intended to be returned to earth in a controlled manner, but a failed Soyuz spacecraft launch led to an interruption to the ISS schedule and the pallet of batteries instead headed back to earth in an uncontrolled reentry.

The ISS is scheduled to receive upgrades and new installations for its hardware and computing capabilities. In order for that to happen, astronauts must venture out into space’s airless vacuum.

Otero said his son was at home at the time of the crash, but was not injured.

The object was  turned over to NASA  to determine whether it originated from the ISS pallet of batteries.

"It used to have a cylindrical shape, and you can tell by the shape of the top that it traveled in this direction through the atmosphere. Whatever you burned, created in this burn and melted the metal over in this direction," Otero  told WINK News.

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The end is near (of the storm)

SLOW IMPROVEMENT

The storm center that caused all the problems in New England continues to pull away to the northeast. Winds will still be brisk, but much lower Friday. Temperatures will be in the 40s. If you are lucky enough to see a little early sun, enjoy it. Clouds and showers are back in the afternoon.

Saturday will start dry, but more light rain and snow will roll through in the afternoon and evening. This is due to the upper level low spinning over New England.

Clouds will rule the sky much of Sunday, but no more showers!

TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART OF THE STATES

Some of New England will be in totality with the eclipse coming Monday. So far, the forecast of sunny skies is holding. It’ll be a partial eclipse in the majority of New England, but still cool to look at with eclipse glasses.

Temperatures will warm to 60!

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