Cleanup and harm assessments are underway at airports in Florida after Hurricane Milton barreled into the state’s western coast as a Class 3 storm.
A number of airports within the Tampa, Sarasota and Orlando areas closed within the hours and days forward of landfall, with hundreds of flights canceled.
Hangars at Albert Whitted Airport have been broken by winds from Hurricane Milton on Oct. 10, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Mike Carlson/AP
Bridges and roads have been additionally closed within the wake of Milton, with harm assessments underway.
Here is a take a look at the most recent on when airports are anticipated to reopen.
Tampa Worldwide Airport
The airport introduced it is going to reopen for business and cargo operations at 8 a.m. Friday, after conducting a “thorough inspection of the three,300-acre campus and its buildings.”
“Roadways are clear and parking garages are in fine condition,” airport officers mentioned. “The Metropolis of Tampa confirmed the Airport shouldn’t be experiencing wastewater points and the Airport Rescue and Hearth Preventing station had no important harm. The FAA reviews the air site visitors management tower is prepared for full operations.”
The airport’s campus did maintain some harm following the intense wind gusts and heavy rainfall throughout the hurricane and a few areas will want repairs, airport officers mentioned. Among the many impacts, six boarding bridges that transfer passengers to plane have been broken by excessive winds and elements of the principle terminal had leaks and want repairs.
The airport can be “evaluating staffing ranges after one of many greatest evacuation occasions we have had in current Tampa Bay historical past.”
St. Pete-Clearwater Worldwide Airport
All flights out of the Tampa Bay-area airport have been canceled on Thursday.
Airport officers had beforehand introduced the airport will probably be closed on Wednesday and Thursday and suggested passengers to contact airways straight “for data relating to cancellations and resumption of service.”
Sarasota Bradenton Worldwide Airport
The Sarasota airport will stay closed on Thursday and Friday, airport officers mentioned.
“SRQ is presently assessing situations and starting cleanup publish Hurricane Milton,” the airport mentioned whereas advising prospects to look at for additional updates on social media.
The airport recorded one of many strongest gusts of any location throughout the storm at 102 mph.
Orlando Worldwide Airport
Hangars at Albert Whitted Airport have been broken by winds from Hurricane Milton on Oct. 10, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Mike Carlson/AP
The airport stays closed to business and personal passenger operations, after the Orlando area was hit with highly effective wind gusts and rain in a single day, as crews conduct harm assessments.
“Better Orlando Aviation Authority management will make a dedication on when each airports can reopen, primarily based on suggestions from crews surveying the buildings and grounds,” airport officers mentioned.
The airport famous {that a} Discover to Air Mission (NOTAM) filed with the FAA earlier than Milton’s arrival confirmed the airport is scheduled to open at 6 p.m. Thursday, however famous that doesn’t consider harm evaluation.
“The airport and companions additionally want time to herald ample workers and to organize working areas to higher serve prospects,” airport officers mentioned. “The general public mustn’t depend on the NOTAM for a assured opening announcement.”
Orlando Sanford Worldwide Airport
The airport, positioned north of Orlando in Sanford, mentioned it is going to resume operations on Friday.
Allegiant passengers have been suggested to verify with the airline for questions on how Milton would possibly impression their flights.