Flights between the UK and Florida have been cancelled as Hurricane Milton approaches the U.S. coast.
Milton is forecasted to make landfall on Florida's west coast late Wednesday or early Thursday, with tropical storm winds expected to start impacting the area by Wednesday morning.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has warned of an escalating risk of a life-threatening storm surge along the west coast, with heavy rainfall and strong winds likely to affect much of Florida.
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Orlando International Airport announced it will halt commercial passenger operations starting at 8 AM on Wednesday. The airport stated that flights will resume as soon as damage assessments are completed.
Travel company Tui indicated significant disruptions to its flight schedule, noting that Melbourne Orlando International Airport will close to commercial traffic at 2 PM on Wednesday and is expected to reopen at 9 AM on Friday. Tui has cancelled a flight from Gatwick to Melbourne Orlando on Wednesday and is reaching out to customers to discuss their options.
Virgin Atlantic also announced the cancellation of multiple flights due to the severe weather anticipated from Hurricane Milton, coinciding with a state of emergency declared in Florida. On Tuesday, two flights between Heathrow and Tampa were cancelled, followed by nine cancellations on Wednesday, including flights from Manchester to Orlando. An additional ten flights have been called off for Thursday, affecting routes from Heathrow, Manchester, Orlando, and Tampa.
Two flights from Edinburgh to Orlando have been delayed by 23 hours, impacting one flight on Wednesday and another on Thursday. Virgin Atlantic reassured customers that the safety and comfort of passengers and crew are their top priorities and that they are in contact with those affected by the hurricane to discuss their options.