As Hurricane Milton approaches Florida, air travel from the Hudson Valley is expected to be significantly impacted. Travelers from Westchester County Airport, Albany International Airport, and LaGuardia Airport heading south are advised to check with their carriers for potential cancellations or delays. The hurricane is projected to hit travel hotspots such as Orlando, Tampa, and Fort Myers, while Miami, Palm Beach, and Fort Lauderdale are expected to be spared.
According to jsonline.com, more than a dozen flights to Florida airports were canceled at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport due to the impending Category 5 hurricane. Southwest flights departing from Milwaukee to Tampa, Fort Myers, and Orlando were all canceled. American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines have issued waivers allowing travelers with tickets to some Florida airports to change tickets for no extra charge.
Several airports in Florida, including Tampa International Airport and St. Pete Clearwater International Airport, suspended operations, and Orlando International Airport plans to stop commercial flights on Wednesday at 8 a.m. All flights out of St. Pete Clearwater are canceled Wednesday and Thursday.
Under Department of Transportation rules, anyone whose flight was canceled is eligible for a refund. However, they aren't entitled to any compensation for delays due to the storm since weather is outside airline control.
Delta Airlines has also issued a weather alert for several Florida destinations, including Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Key West, Melbourne, Miami, Orlando, Sarasota, Tampa, and West Palm Beach. The airline advises customers to check flight status frequently for updates.