HANOVER TOWNSHIP, LEHIGH COUNTY, Pa. — Flight cancellations and airport closures are already well underway as Hurricane Milton barrels toward a projected early Thursday landfall in Florida.
The hurricane is expected to heavily disrupt air travel, including flights from Lehigh Valley International Airport to numerous destinations.
Allegiant Air, which is a primary carrier out of the Lehigh Valley, issued a travel alert stating Hurricane Milton would disrupt flight schedules into and out of four airports that are nonstop destination routes from the Lehigh Valley. They include:
- Punta Gorda, FL (PGD)
- Sanford/Orlando, FL (SFB)
- Sarasota/Bradenton, FL (SRQ)
- St. Petersburg/Clearwater, FL (PIE)
“If your flight is disrupted by Hurricane Milton, you will receive an email notification from Allegiant with the options available to you,” the alert said.
“We will continue to monitor this hurricane and actively provide updates as necessary," the alert continued. "Customers may also call Allegiant Customer Care at 702-505-8888 for assistance at any time, 24 hours per day, seven days a week. We expect hold times to be very long and appreciate your patience. Please remain safe.”
"We expect hold times to be very long and appreciate your patience. Please remain safe.”Allegiant Air statement
'Safety is paramount'
Colin Riccobon, spokesman for the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority, said “safety is paramount” when it comes to adjusting flight schedules in the coming days.
“You’re going to have the hurricane, and then you’re going to have the aftermath of what took place,” Riccobon said.
The list of flights canceled in and out of the Allentown area (ABE) thus far include:
- Tuesday, Oct. 8
All flights departing after 11:30 a.m. to Clearwater/St. Petersburg (PIE), Punta Gorda (PGD), Sarasota (SRQ), and Orlando/Sanford (SFB)
- Wednesday, Oct. 9
All arriving and departing flights from Punta Gorda (PGD), Clearwater/St. Petersburg (PIE), Melbourne (MLB), Sarasota (SRQ) and Orlando/Sanford (SFB)
- Thursday, Oct. 10
All arriving and departing flights from Punta Gorda (PGD), Clearwater/St. Petersburg (PIE), Melbourne (MLB), Sarasota (SRQ) and Orlando/Sanford (SFB)
The airline said it will continue to provide additional information regarding flight cancellations when they are available.
“Officials are doing their best to get the word out quickly and efficiently so people can plan,” Riccobon said.
“Everyone is putting their stake in the ground to make sure people remain safe. But there are going to be collateral impacts affecting the aviation system to people south into that region.
“Airports are going to do their best to help people rebook and reschedule, and probably already have, considering the early notification from airlines. But it’s always a challenge, especially when you’re talking about a leisure destination like Florida, to get back on track with passenger activity.”
On Tuesday morning, Milton was a strong Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph. It’s expected to make landfall around 1 a.m. Thursday morning near or north of the Tampa area.
“A large area of destructive storm surge will occur along parts of the west coast of Florida,” the National Hurricane Center said in its latest update.
“This is an extremely life-threatening situation and residents in those areas should follow advice given by local officials and evacuate immediately if told to do so.
Milton is expected to remain a hurricane as it crosses the Florida Peninsula, the NHC said, with life-threatening hurricane-force winds almost coast-to-coast.
