Flights from the UK to Florida have been cancelled due to Hurricane Ian, including a direct service between Newcastle and Orlando.
TUI issued an alert on Wednesday as it was confirmed that Melbourne-Orlando Airport will be closed until Friday. "We will be proactively contacting all impacted customers in departure date order to discuss their options," reads an alert from TUI.
We apologise for the disruption to our customers’ holidays, and we’d like to thank them for their understanding. TUI has cancelled flights from Glasgow and Birmingham to Orlando on Thursday September 29, as well as services from Newcastle and Gatwick to Melbourne on Friday September 30.
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Hurricane Ian left a path of destruction in south-west Florida, trapping people in flooded homes, damaging the roof of a hospital intensive care unit and knocking out power to two million people before aiming for the Atlantic Coast. One of the strongest hurricanes to hit the United States barrelled across the Florida peninsula overnight on Wednesday, threatening catastrophic flooding inland, the National Hurricane Centre warned.
The centre’s 2am advisory said Ian was expected to emerge over Atlantic waters later on Thursday, with flooding rains continuing across central and northern Florida.
TUI's cancelled Florida flights
Thursday September 29
- TOM742 – Glasgow to Melbourne-Orlando
- TOM664 – Birmingham to Melbourne-Orlando
Friday September 30
- TOM046 – Gatwick to Melbourne-Orlando
- TOM754 – Newcastle to Melbourne-Orlando
Customers can also contact the TUI team 24/7 on +4433 33 365 147.
Melbourne-Orlando Airport posted an update on social media.
It reads: The Melbourne Orlando International Airport will likely remain closed through Thursday, September 29. We continue to monitor the progress of Hurricane Ian and the tropical impacts in our area. Our air carriers have been notified of the closure and we will continue to work closely with them to facilitate a return to normal operations as quickly as possible following the storm.
"We will reopen as soon as it is safe, and we will continue to communicate with our airlines to get passengers to their destinations as quickly as possible. Passengers are encouraged to contact your airline directly for updates on individual flights."
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