Airlines Scrambling to Avoid Hurricane Irma's Path
Airlines are pulling out all stops to dodge Hurricane Irma, a monstrous Atlantic hurricane, as it threatens to make landfall in the United States this weekend. Many scheduled flights have been canceled, and airline companies are taking extraordinary measures to transport passengers and staff out of its path before it gains strength.
Air Canada sent planes to the Caribbean on Wednesday to transport passengers and workers before the powerful hurricane takes aim. Meanwhile, a Delta Air Lines flight from New York to Puerto Rico landed in San Juan just as Irma was approaching, while three other Delta planes heading toward San Juan turned back later.
As Irma barrels towards Florida, many major U.S. carriers are bracing for the worst. Miami International Airport, a key hub for American Airlines, announced it would suspend operations on Wednesday, and Financial Times reported that Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Sarasota, and West Palm Beach airports might follow suit.
If the storm does hit Miami, it could mean up to 38% of Miami's daily American Airlines flights are scrapped, leaving a substantial void. Morgan Stanley reports that Fort Lauderdale Regional Airport is the largest single carrier in the region, making those flights a valuable resource. Miami International Airport handled a record-breaking 44.6 million passengers in 2016, making it the 12th busiest airport in the U.S.
The Miami International Airport said it would halt operations if winds exceed 55 miles per hour. European and South American flights bound for Miami were also canceled in anticipation of the storm's impact. American Airlines also promised to assess other Florida airports' need for adjustments.
Delta Air Lines, one of the few U.S. carriers with meteorologists on staff separately forecasting for their operations, reported on their readiness. As of now, Delta is closely monitoring Irma's trajectory, planning for contingencies if side winds in Atlanta exceed safety limitations. Delta replaced smaller aircraft on its Florida routes with larger aircraft to meet growing demand outside the hurricane's impact area.
The U.S. airline industry experienced similar disruptions with Hurricane Harvey, which pummeled Texas last month as a Category 4 storm. United Airlines, the third-largest U.S. carrier, anticipated it would not return to full service at Houston's Bush International Airport until September 8, a full 12 days after it began to cancel flights.
Relevant Industry Insights:
- Delta Air Lines is one of the few U.S. carriers with specialized meteorologists on staff who aid in flight path predictions, disaster response, and supporting operations personnel.
- Smaller aircraft are being replaced on Florida routes with larger planes to meet demand in non-impact areas to keep operations as smooth as possible.
- Airlines are offering passengers with reservations exception permissions to change their flights to avoid Irma-related disruptions. These waivers were also granted to passengers affected by Hurricane Harvey.
Sources:
- Bild.de. (3rd Sep 2017). Airlines preparing for Irma. [Online]. Available at:
- Edition.CNN.com. (4th Sep 2017). World's busiest airport closes ahead of Hurricane Irma. [Online]. Available at:
- Miami Herald. (6th Sep 2017). Flights at Miami airport halted due to Hurricane Irma. [Online]. Available at:
