At least 2,000 passenger flights have been canceled as Hurricane Ian, one of the most powerful storms ever recorded in the US, makes landfall in Florida. The ‘dangerous’ hurricane is reported to be almost a Category 5 storm.
In total, around 5,000 passenger flights due to depart or arrive at various US airports on September 30, 2022, have been canceled.
Many scheduled services, more than 2,100 flights, were canceled on September 29 alone.
According to the US National Hurricane Center, tropical storm-force winds are expected to spread northward across northeastern Florida, Georgia, and Carolina costs. The hurricane has already significantly impacted the operations of major US airports, including Orlando (MCO), Sarasota-Bradenton (SRQ), Melbourne (MEL), and Daytona Beach (DAB) as well as Naples (APF), St Petersburg/Clearwater (PIE), and Tampa (TPA). Flights to and out of these airports have been temporarily halted.
“Coastal water levels continue to subside along the west coast of Florida. There is a danger of life-threatening storm surge today through Friday along the coasts of northeast Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Residents in these areas should follow any advice given by local officials,” the National Hurricane Center advises.
“Widespread, life-threatening catastrophic flooding, with major to record river flooding, will continue today across portions of central Florida with considerable flooding in northern Florida, southeastern Georgia and eastern South Carolina expected today through the end of the week,” it concluded.
The path of #HurricaneIan and the clearing of much of Florida’s airspace from 16:00 UTC (Noon local) 27 Sep through 01:30 UTC 29 Sep.
Live air traffic over Florida: https://t.co/ku9Xv5cSXf pic.twitter.com/WkaFP1U2yM
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) September 29, 2022
Recognized as the second-largest market of commercial aviation in the US, Florida operates more than 130 public-use and 20 commercial airports.
