More than 1,500 flights have been cancelled and more than 14,000 delayed so far on August 5, 2024, as Hurricane Debby makes landfall in Florida.
The latest figures published on flight tracking website FlightAware follow reports of thousands of cancellations and delayed flights over the first weekend in August as the tropical storm intensified. 1,833 flights were cancelled and 30,893 were delayed on August 3, 2024, while 2,963 flights were cancelled on August 4, 2024, and 32,122 delayed.
American Airlines is the worst impacted by the tropical storm and has cancelled more than 372 planned flights and postponed nearly 200 on August 5, 2024. Southwest Airlines canceled 192 flights and postponed 365 flights, while Delta Air Lines has cancelled 138 flights and delayed 182.
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) has canceled 57 flights and delayed 62 and Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) has canceled more than 80 scheduled flights and delayed 21.
Miami International Airport (MIA) has canceled 77 flights and postponed 33, and Orlando International Airport (MCO) has reported around 77 delays and nearly 100 cancellations so far on August 5, 2024, making up roughly 17% of all flights.
On August 4, 2024, 143 flights were canceled and 193 were delayed at MIA and MCO experienced 101 flight cancellations and 297 flight delays.
Flight disruptions have also expanded to the East Coast, with New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) reporting 36 flight cancellations and 79 delays on August 5, 2024.
In response to the storm American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, and United Airlines have issued waivers, allowing passengers to modify flights without any additional fees. Additionally, according to the Department of Transport (DOT), passengers are entitled to refunds if their flights are cancelled.
Hurricane Debby has been classified as a Category 1 hurricane by the National Hurricane Center. The center predicts that the tropical storm may cause 12 inches of rainfall and winds of up to 85 mph. Debby is the fourth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season so far.
The hurricane season began earlier than usual this year, with Hurricane Beryl, the earliest Category 5 hurricane to hit the Caribbean and Texas in June 2024.