Nearly all flights out of Orlando, Tampa, and Sarasota were canceled as airports in these areas shut down in response to Hurricane Milton’s approach. Airlines faced criticism for price gouging as evacuation orders were issued, with many residents sharing screenshots of exorbitant airfares on social media. Some economy tickets out of Tampa reportedly skyrocketed to $1,000, with others listed as high as $2,150. However, these prices were irrelevant since Tampa International Airport closed before these flights were scheduled.
In response to the situation, United Airlines announced it would cap airfares at $500, with fares from Florida hubs averaging below this limit. Delta also capped fares for 12 Florida cities and sought to utilize larger aircraft to accommodate passengers. American Airlines joined the effort by placing fare caps for flights departing from affected airports.
As Hurricane Milton, a Category 4 storm anticipated to be one of the worst in a century, approached Florida, flight cancellations mounted. By Wednesday morning, nearly all flights from Orlando, Tampa, and Sarasota were grounded, while Miami International Airport, not in the storm’s direct path, experienced some cancellations and delays.
Airports implemented closures in anticipation of the storm’s impact. Tampa International Airport ceased operations on Tuesday morning, with plans to reopen only after assessing any potential damage. Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport closed later that day, and Orlando International Airport announced its closure for Wednesday morning.
In preparation for the storm, airlines began offering travel waivers shortly before Milton’s arrival. Many carriers augmented flight capacity, with American adding more than 2,000 extra seats from Orlando, alongside the increased capacity in Tampa and Sarasota. United Airlines also added 18 extra flights from Florida and ensured the delivery of essential supplies for storm preparation. By Wednesday, all of United’s scheduled flights from Tampa, Orlando, and Fort Myers were fully booked.
