Airlines cancel flights, airports close as Florida braces for Hurricane Milton By Reuters

By Abhinav Parmar

(Reuters) – U.S. airlines are canceling flights and changing schedules as some Florida airports close in anticipation of disruption from Hurricane Milton, which is expected to make landfall in the state on Wednesday.

As of Tuesday afternoon, 896 flights to, in or out of the United States had been delayed and 696 had been canceled, with the number expected to rise as more than 1,500 flights scheduled for Wednesday have already been canceled, according to the data provider flight tracking. FlightAware.

Southwest, one of the largest U.S. airlines, said it was adjusting its schedule at several airports that were suspending operations, including Tampa International Airport and Orlando International Airport.

Orlando International, one of the busiest US airports, said it would cease operations at 8 a.m. local time on Wednesday, according to an announcement on its website, while Tampa International said it was closed on Tuesday .

Allegiant Air, Sun County Airlines and JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ: ) are among the carriers most likely to be adversely affected if Hurricanes Milton and Helene, which hit Florida recently, affect travel demand, according to analysts at Raymond James.

Allegiant and JetBlue canceled 41 and 92 flights, respectively, on Tuesday, according to FlightAware, while Sun Country told Reuters it canceled about 19 passenger flights.

Hurricane Milton was expected to expand Tuesday as it passed Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula en route to Florida’s battered Gulf Coast, where more than 1 million people were ordered to evacuate ahead of the monster storm’s arrival.

In response to the expected disruptions, some airlines, including United Airlines, JetBlue and Air Canada, said they had added additional capacity to move people from Florida.