Hurricane Milton: Flight Cancellations, Airport Closures, and Travel Advisories

For the second time in as many weeks, the west coast of Florida is bracing for a direct hit from a potentially catastrophic weather event as Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall Wednesday.

According to the National Hurricane Centre, the Category 4 storm is packing “devastating hurricane-force winds,” growing even more intense than its predecessor Hurricane Helene, which slammed the coast of Florida in late September.

If your travels have been affected, be sure to follow us on X (formerly Twitter) for the latest updates, and read below for information on how Canadian airlines are handling the situation.

Travel Advisory Issued for Canadians

Canada has issued travel advisories for both Florida and Mexico telling Canadians to avoid non-essential travel along the west and east coasts of Florida, where Milton is expected to hit hardest. The travel warning has been heightened for Mexico, with Canadians being told to “avoid all travel” to the west and north coasts of the Yucatan Peninsula.

More than 50 counties in Florida are currently under a state of emergency as they brace for Milton’s impending impact. As a result, several airports in the state have announced closures.

Tampa International Airport (TPA) suspended operations as of 9am (EST) Tuesday, October 8. According to airport officials, it will remain closed to the public until any damage from the storm is assessed.

The St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport (PIE), just outside of Tampa, will close at 12:30pm (EST) Tuesday, and remain closed through Thursday, October 9, 2024, while the airport in Sarasota (SRQ) is set to close at 4pm (EST) Tuesday.

Orlando International Airport (MCO) will suspend commercial and private flights on the morning of October 9, 2024, but will stay open to accept emergency aid and relief flights as needed.

Travellers scheduled to fly in or out of the Orlando and Tampa airports are urged to check with their airlines for latest updates.

The same is being said here in Canada, as Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) says it is closely monitoring Hurricane Milton as it moves through the Yucatan Peninsula towards Florida.

Due to the closure of the above mentioned Florida airports, some flights into and out of Toronto will be affected. For regular updates on affected flights out of Pearson, you can check their website: https://www.torontopearson.com/en/departures

Meanwhile, Air Canada, WestJet, and Porter Airlines have all issued travel advisories to areas affected by Hurricane Milton, including Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Orlando (MCO), Tampa (TPA), and Miami (MIA)

Air Canada has also activated its hurricane and tropical storm policy which states that if the US National Hurricane Center issues a hurricane watch or a hurricane or tropical storm warning for your destination within seven days of your departure you can do the following:

If your trip has not yet started, you can:

• Cancel your reservation: If you purchased a refundable fare, you’ll receive a full refund. If you purchased a non-refundable ticket, they’ll transfer the full amount paid into your AC Wallet or to a Future Travel Credit valid for one year.
• Choose a new travel date (subject to availability), earlier than originally planned or up to and including 14 days after your original departure date and you won’t pay any difference in fare.
• Choose a new destination – just pay any difference in fare.

If your trip has already started, you can:

• Return early (subject to availability)
• Cancel your reservation (Air Canada will transfer the difference into your AC Wallet or to a Future Travel Credit valid for one year)

WestJet has also issued a travel advisory for Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, and Fort Myers, as well has activated its Hurricane/Tropical Storm promise for parts of Cancun. As a result, the airline says it may experience delays and cancellations to those areas affected by the hurricane. The airline is advising all guests to check the status of their flight prior to leaving for the airport.

As far as Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR) are concerned, situations like this are considered outside of the carrier’s control, and you won’t be due any compensation due to any delays or cancellations.

Conclusion

Hundreds of flights into and out of the US and Canada have been cancelled or delayed, and a number of airports in Florida are closed or are scheduled to close as Hurricane Milton barrels towards Florida’s west coast.

Canadians are being told to avoid non-essential travel to areas affected by the storm in Florida and parts of the Yucatan Peninsula.

Air Canada, WestJet, and Porter Airlines have all issued travel advisories for areas affected by the hurricane, and are telling any guests booked on flights over the next few days to check the flight status before heading to the airport.