As Hurricane Idalia approaches the U.S. coastline, its impact is already being felt in the aviation sector. The storm, which made landfall near Florida's Big Bend on Wednesday, has prompted airlines to introduce flexible rebooking policies and cancel hundreds of flights across Florida and the Southeast.
Even before its landfall, Hurricane Idalia was causing disruptions for air travelers. By Wednesday afternoon, over 1,000 flights across the U.S. had been canceled, predominantly affecting routes to or from Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, as per data from FlightAware.
Tampa International Airport (TPA) ceased all flight operations from 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, making it the most significant airport to halt flights due to the storm. Other airports, including Tallahassee International Airport (TLH), St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE), Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV), and Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ), also announced plans to suspend flights as the hurricane approached.
While many of Wednesday's cancellations were linked to these airports, other locations experienced disruptions as the storm's effects spread. Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) in Florida saw about 110 flights canceled, accounting for roughly 60% of its daily schedule. Orlando International Airport (MCO) remained operational but reported over 90 flight cancellations.
Airports outside Florida, such as Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) in Georgia and Charleston International Airport (CHS) in South Carolina, also experienced a surge in cancellations. Both airports are expected to be in the hurricane's path through Friday.
Moreover, major hubs like Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) have seen a spike in cancellations, primarily due to disruptions at airports situated along the hurricane's projected path. Airports from Boston to Dallas have also reported flight cancellations.
Preemptive cancellations for Thursday are already on the rise, with airlines aiming to keep their crew and aircraft out of harm's way. Nearly 90 flights have been canceled for Thursday across various airports, including Tampa, Tallahassee, and Jacksonville.
Given the flexible rebooking policies introduced by most airlines, travelers scheduled to visit the affected region this week are advised to consider altering their travel dates to sidestep the storm.
This situation is rapidly evolving, and updates will be provided as the storm progresses. Travelers are encouraged to stay informed and make necessary adjustments to their plans.
