Hurricane Milton travel impacts: Airport closures, flight cancellations and more

Hurricane Milton is already causing travel disruptions as the storm takes aim at Florida's west coast.

Airports, like Philadelphia International, are quiet -- lacking the usual bustle flights to Florida often bring. Even travelers not going to Florida could see a ripple effect.

"It's all the ripple effect," said Hector Leal, from San Antonio, Texas.

The hurricane is expected to make landfall as a Category 3 hurricane Wednesday night or early Thursday morning. Possible record storm surge is anticipated in the Tampa area. Flooding is also a risk throughout much of the state.

Evacuation orders have been issued in counties along Florida's west coast, including in Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas and Volusia.

Several airports have announced temporary closures ahead of landfall.

Airport closures

Tampa International Airport will suspend operations beginning at 9 a.m. on Tuesday and remain closed to the public "until it can assess any damage after the storm," airport officials said.

The St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, just outside of Tampa, will close at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, after its last flight departs, and remain closed on Wednesday and Thursday.

"The airport is in a mandatory evacuation zone and is not a public shelter," airport officials tweeted. "Prepare and stay safe."

The Sarasota Bradenton International Airport in Sarasota will close at 4 p.m. Tuesday and reopen "once safe to do so," airport officials tweeted.

Commercial operations will stop at the Orlando Executive Airport starting at 10 p.m. Tuesday and at the Orlando International Airport starting at 8 a.m. Wednesday, airport officials said. Both will reopen as soon as it's safe.

"While these airports will cease commercial operations, they are not closed to emergency/aid and relief flights and will remain open as necessary," airport officials said. "Commercial operations will resume as soon as possible based on damage assessment."

Orlando Sanford International Airport in Sanford will also suspend operations starting at 8 p.m. Wednesday, airport officials said while advising passengers to "stay tuned for updates."

Miami International Airport and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport will remain open and operational, with airport officials saying they are closely monitoring the storm.

Flight cancellations

More than 700 flights have been canceled throughout the U.S. as of early Tuesday afternoon, according to FlightAware. Tampa International Airport has the most, with nearly 350 flights canceled.

The disruptions are already growing on Wednesday, too, with nearly 1,600 flights across the U.S. canceled -- about half of which are into or out of Orlando International Airport, according to FlightAware.

Airlines are operating larger aircraft and adding more flights to their schedules ahead of the hurricane and airport closures.

The Department of Transportation is monitoring flights in and out of areas affected by Milton to "make sure airlines are not charging excessively increasing fares," Secretary Pete Buttigieg said on X.

Rail service changes

Amtrak announced it will operate a modified schedule due to Milton.

Among the changes, trains on its Silver Service route will terminate at Jacksonville on Monday through Thursday, not continuing on south to stops including Orlando, Tampa and Miami. Select trains on its Silver Service route will also originate at Jacksonville from Tuesday through Friday.

The company's Auto Train Service, which runs between the Washington, D.C., and Orlando areas, is canceled Tuesday through Thursday.

Brightline, Florida's high-speed rail, is also adjusting some of its scheduled trips due to Milton, including ceasing operations on Wednesday and Thursday between West Palm Beach and Orlando.

"We will resume full operations after an assessment of track conditions once the storm has passed," the rail service said in an update on X while advising passengers with reservations to refer to their email for updates.

Other travel updates

Florida's Department of Transportation began locking down drawbridges Tuesday afternoon in coordination with the United States Coast Guard.

The department has suspended lane closures and active construction work on interstates within the storm's path. Tolls have also been suspended across central and west Florida, it said.

The Florida Division of Emergency Services announced Monday it has partnered with Uber to provide free rides to and from shelters. Free shuttles to shelters were also operating Tuesday in counties with an evacuation order in place, it said.