As Hurricane Helene approaches Florida’s Big Bend, the travel impact is significant. On Thursday, US airlines faced a wave of cancellations and delays. A total of 1,218 flights were canceled, and 4,146 were delayed by 5:59 PM ET. This situation has left many passengers scrambling for alternative travel arrangements. Officials urge residents in the hurricane’s path to evacuate due to potentially catastrophic conditions.
Southwest Airlines led with 201 cancellations, closely followed by American Airlines and Delta Air Lines. Airports in affected areas, including Tampa International, Orlando International, and Fort Lauderdale International, have warned travelers of further delays and cancellations. To help passengers, airlines like American and JetBlue issued travel advisories for those flying to or from Southeast US airports and the Gulf of Mexico.
In response to the storm, airlines are allowing free rebooking for affected passengers, valid through the upcoming weekend. Tampa International Airport closed operations at 2 AM Thursday and plans to reopen Friday, pending damage assessments. FlightAware also indicated that cancellations extend to Southwest Florida, Sarasota, and Atlanta.
At Reagan National Airport, cancellations affected flights to Tampa, Fort Myers, and Key West. As the storm progresses, passengers must stay updated on their flight status. Early Thursday, some flights to Miami remained on schedule, but travelers should remain vigilant as the situation could change rapidly.
Many airlines, including American Airlines, have implemented free rebooking for passengers scheduled to fly to specific airports from September 25 to 28. These airports include Asheville, Atlanta, and Nashville, among others. Other carriers, such as Delta, Southwest, JetBlue, Frontier, Spirit, and Alaska, are also providing similar rebooking options. However, travelers must reschedule by the end of the week.
Major weather events like Hurricane Helene complicate travel. However, new Department of Transportation regulations ensure airlines must provide full refunds for any cancellations or significant delays. These are classified as delays over three hours domestically and over six hours for international flights. As the hurricane continues to advance, travelers should prepare for further cancellations and changing plans. Lastly, don’t forget to check WentWorld.com and follow our social media channels for ultimate travel tips and destination guides.
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