Hurricane Milton, which has recently been upgraded to a Category 4 storm, is set to hit the Florida region, causing widespread disruptions in various sectors, particularly the aviation industry. As a result, the US State of Florida is preparing for its largest evacuation in seven years.
Hurricane Milton began as a tropical storm, and has recently been regraded as a Category 4 Storm set to reach landfall on Wednesday this week. With wind speeds reaching over 130 mph and torrential rainfall, major airports, including Miami International Airport (MIA), Orlando International Airport (MCO), and Tampa International Airport (TPA), have canceled hundreds of flights as airlines scramble to ensure passenger safety. Airlines including American, Delta, and Southwest have grounded operations, with some offering flexible rebooking options for passengers affected by the hurricane. It is predicted the storm will hit the Tampa Bay area, before travelling over Orlando.
Wide-Reaching Effects
It is not just commercial aviation that is set to be disrupted. The general aviation sector, including flight schools, is also heavily impacted. Renown for it’s fair weather conditions, Florida is a popular base for leading flight school’s including L3 Harris. Flight training centers, such as those in the Miami and Orlando areas, have grounded all instructional flights due to hazardous flying conditions. Student pilots are seeing their training schedules delayed as schools prioritize the safety of both instructors and aircraft. Many flight schools have moved planes to safer locations or secured them in hangars to avoid storm damage.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) across large portions of the state, and air traffic controllers are managing rerouted flights, adding strain to already congested airspace in neighboring states.
Travel Radar will provide further updates as this event unfolds.
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Tampa International Airport to Halt Operations
Tampa International Airport will suspend all commercial and cargo operations at 9 a.m. Tuesday ahead of Hurricane Milton, the airport said in a statement earlier today.
The airport will remain closed to the public until it can assess any damage after the storm.
“Travelers are urged to heed emergency management advisories and pay close attention to public safety alerts,
After the airport reopens please contact your airline for the latest flight information,” the airport said. “TPA will announce if flight operations are affected by the storm, but airlines are responsible for their schedules.”
