Airports Close, Hundreds of Flights Canceled as Hurricane Helene Barrels Toward Florida

Tampa Airport and St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport are both closed as the storm heads towards the state.

By Alison Fox Alison Fox

Alison Fox is a Travel + Leisure contributor. She has also written for Parents.com, The Wall Street Journal, and amNewYork. When she’s not in New York City, she can be found at the beach or on the slopes. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on September 26, 2024

Close Heavy rains from Hurricane Helene fall over Cancun, Quintana Roo State, Mexico, on September 24, 2024. Photo:

ELIZABETH RUIZ/Getty Images

Flight cancellations and closures continue to pile up Thursday as Hurricane Helene barrels toward Florida. 

Now a Category 2 storm, which caused flooding in Mexico on Wednesday, was expected to make landfall on Florida’s northwestern coast on Thursday evening, the Associated Press reported.  The storm could potentially grow to a Category 3 or higher, threatening an “unsurvivable” storm surge and causing damaging rain, wind, and flash floods to stretch for hundreds of miles inland.

“Helene will drop very heavy rain over the next couple of days,” the National Weather Service warned in a Facebook post. “There will be flooding inland, separate from the deadly storm surge expected along the coast. Check in on neighbors and family, and seriously reconsider traveling unless absolutely necessary.”

Tampa International Airport (TPA) has suspended all commercial and cargo operations early Thursday, the airport announced. TPA said it will remain closed “until it can assess any damage after the storm,” but expected to reopen Friday.

Similarly, St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport (PIE) closed its terminal on Wednesday night and plans to reopen Friday.

As of Thursday morning, more than 900 flights had been canceled within, into, or out of the United States, according to flight tracker FlightAware. Tampa alone was responsible for more than 200 of Thursday’s outgoing flight cancellations.

Southwest Airlines axed the most flights, canceling about 200, followed by Delta Air Lines, which canceled more than 100 flights, and United Airlines, which canceled more than 80.

Major carriers also issued travel alerts ahead of the storm, including Delta, United, Southwest, and more, offering flexible rebooking options.

Florida’s Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 61 counties and said both voluntary and mandatory evacuation orders were in effect in multiple counties across the state. Storm Surge warnings were also issued for the entire Florida Big Bend and West Coast through Southwest Florida.