Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Travel
  3. News

Airports close and airlines issue flight waivers ahead of Hurricane Milton

Some of Florida's most popular airports are closing ahead of the storm.

Hurricane Milton
Hurricane Milton / GOES/NOAA

Florida is bracing for another major hurricane as the state continues to recover from the devastation left by Hurricane Helene. Hurricane Milton, a powerful Category 4 storm currently churning in the Gulf of Mexico, is expected to make landfall in Central Florida on Wednesday.

In preparation for the storm, airlines and airports are taking precautionary measures. As of Tuesday morning, nearly 700 flights have been canceled, with more than 1,500 cancellations already in place for Wednesday, according to FlightAware. Airlines are offering flight waivers, and several major airports in Florida are shutting down operations.

Airport closures include:

  • Lakeland Linder International Airport: Ceasing air traffic control operations at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday.
  • Orlando International Airport: Closing at 8 a.m. Wednesday.
  • Sarasota Bradenton International Airport: Closed Wednesday and Thursday.
  • St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport: Closing after the last flight on Thursday evening, remaining closed through at least Thursday.
  • Tampa International Airport: Suspended operations as of 9 a.m. Tuesday.
Recommended Videos

Airlines issuing flight waivers

a Delta plane flying in the sky
Jeffry Surianto / Pexels

Ahead of Hurricane Milton’s impact, airlines nationwide have issued flight alerts and waivers to assist customers with travel plans through Florida. Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, Southwest, Frontier Airlines, and Spirit Airlines have each issued waivers for flights scheduled through October 10 to or from several Florida cities, allowing passengers to rebook without penalty. 

JetBlue has offered waivers for flights scheduled through October 11, while United Airlines has extended its timeframe to October 12.

In addition to waivers, American Airlines boosted capacity to help residents and visitors evacuate ahead of the storm. The airline added more than 2,000 seats to flights departing from Tampa and Sarasota Bradenton International Airports on Monday and Tuesday.

Travelers should check their airline’s policies as schedules continue to change in the face of the storm.

Amanda, an accomplished freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio, is a dedicated explorer of both the world and the written word… Read Full Bio
Travelpro is bringing quiet luxury to luggage with its new collection
Travelpro

Just in time for holiday gifting, Travelpro is back with another elevated collection that will turn heads in the airport. Travelpro is introducing Platinum Reserve, its most elevated collection yet. Born from pilots and used daily by more than 220,000 aviation professionals, Travelpro knows that beautiful design has to hold up once a journey begins. Platinum Reserve brings that expertise to a more polished silhouette, pairing full-grain leather details with the smooth, controlled movement the brand is known for.

True luxury proves itself in motion,” said Lisa Cody, Head of Product & Brand Experience of Travelpro. “With Platinum Reserve, we wanted every part of the journey to feel effortless, from moving through a crowded terminal to arriving at your destination looking just as polished as when you left. Because true luxury isn’t replacing your luggage. It’s never having to worry about it.”

Read more
Cafe Charmant, The Corner Store Crew’s Latest, Puts Food Ahead of the Scene
Clothing, Long Sleeve, Sleeve

I’ll be honest. If I weren’t a writer, there is no way in hell I could have landed a 7:15 Saturday night reservation at Cafe Charmant just a mere four weeks after its opening. The most recent jewel in the buzzy Catch Hospitality Group’s crown, the glitzy eatery is the newest IT restaurant to hit the downtown scene, so chalk it up to one of the perks of the job that I could walk in, order a drink, and be ushered to a corner table for two in under 10 minutes.

Though the state of making prime reservations in New York City may not come as a surprise to many, I’m still not able to reconcile with the current velvet rope of so many of this city’s restaurants. Sure, the 90s and early 2000’s had their Indochine, Moomba (if you remember that one, we need to grab a drink). The Waverly Inn, but for the most part, you could easily make a reservation or even walk in and wait for a table with a cocktail in hand at most popular establishments. And, let’s be honest, half the people weren’t even eating, if you know what I mean.

Read more
A tasting guide to Livermore Valley, California’s friendliest wine country
Adult, Male, Man

Livermore Valley sits in Northern California’s East Bay, where the hustle and bustle of neighboring Oakland and San Francisco give way to grassy rolling hills, big open skies, and over 40 tasting rooms. The region is home to some of the best wines I’ve tasted in the state, without the pretense and rigidity I’ve come to expect from other tasting rooms in the region.

And thanks to the valley’s marine-influenced winds, varied climate, and diverse soils, I tasted an unusually broad range of wines. Crisp whites, structured reds, and everything in between seem to be able to find their footing here.

Read more