Hurricane Milton prompts flight cancellations, airport closures in Florida

US airlines are scrambling to adjust their schedules as Hurricane Milton bears down on Florida, with multiple airports shutting down operations.

According to FlightAware, a flight tracking data provider, 896 flights within, into, or out of the US have been delayed, and 696 cancelled.

Looking ahead to Wednesday, over 1,500 flights have already been cancelled. Orlando International Airport, one of the busiest in the US, will cease operations at 8 am local time tomorrow, while Tampa International Airport is closed effective today.

Southwest Airlines, a major US carrier, is adjusting its schedule at affected airports, including Tampa International and Orlando International. Other airlines likely to be impacted by Hurricanes Milton and Helene include Allegiant Air, Sun Country Airlines, and JetBlue Airways, according to analysts at Raymond James.

The flight disruptions come as Hurricane Milton threatens to bring severe weather conditions to Florida, following closely behind Hurricane Helene’s recent impact on the state. Airlines are bracing for potential declines in travel demand due to the storms.