National

When will Florida’s airports re-open?

By Brian Murphy

and Teresa Welsh

September 11, 2017 11:44 AM

A monitor listing canceled flights at Miami International Airport is shown, Friday, Sept. 8, 2017 in Miami. Hurricane Irma scraped Cuba's northern coast Friday on a course toward Florida, leaving in its wake a ravaged string of Caribbean resort islands strewn with splintered lumber, corrugated metal and broken concrete. Wilfredo Lee AP

Hurricane Irma, now a tropical storm as it reaches northern Florida and other Southern states, is still causing trouble for air travelers and airports in the southeast, including Atlanta and Charlotte, N.C.

Many airports in Florida are closed Monday and numerous flights in other cities, including Atlanta and Charlotte, have been canceled as Irma continues to deliver rain and heavy wind.

Florida

Tampa International Airport is closed and will open Tuesday and Wednesday for commercial flights after Hurricane Irma hit Florida on Sunday and Monday, according to the airport’s Twitter account, which has been responding to customer questions. The airport, through its Twitter feed, is urging customers to check with their airline for more details.

“Early indicates show minimal damage from (Hurricane Irma) at TPA,” the airport tweeted on Monday morning. “We saw sustained winds of 52 mph with a peak gust of 66 mph.”

Tallahassee Airport is closed to commercial flights until Tuesday morning, when the terminal will reopen at 4 a.m. The airport is currently open for military and emergency flights. Travelers are advised to check with their airline before arrival.

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Miami International Airport is closed Monday, but some airlines were flying in personnel and crew members in preparation for the resumption of flights on Tuesday. That will happen gradually, so the airport advised passengers to check with their airline regarding the status of individual flights. Cargo flights will also resume Tuesday, the airport said. The airport’s rental car center will be operating under normal hours.

Miami Op-locka Executive Airport was expected to open Monday.

“Damage assessment teams deployed throughout @iflymia. Assessing water damage at all concourses, fallen trees, airfield, fuel & other damages,” wrote Emilio T Gonzalez, Miami International Airport’s aviation director and CEO, on Twitter on Monday morning.

[Miami, Fort Lauderdale airports remain closed; West Palm to reopen Monday afternoon]

Key West International Airport closed Thursday, in preparation for the hurricane, and has not reopened. Its website says it is closed “until further notice.” A list of flight statuses on the website show three scheduled flights were cancelled.

Orlando International Airport is projecting resumption of limited commercial flights on Tuesday, but the airport said passengers should confirm seat assignments on scheduled fights before they arrive at the airport. Airport personnel began testing systems and assessing damage Monday morning to prepare for a return to full operations. According to the airport, initial assessments found water in the main terminal, debris on the airport roadway system and torn canopies on departure and arrival curbs.

Airport employees should be in touch with their individual company to determine when they should resume coming to work. TSA employees should call 407-563-6681 for more information. If it is safe to do so, Greater Orlando Aviation Authority personnel are scheduled to return on Tuesday.

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Jacksonville International Airport remains closed as it is inspected for damage. The airport said on Twitter it will reopen tomorrow, but travelers should check with their airlines for the most up-do-date information.

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