Tampa, Florida – Travelers passing through Tampa International and other major Florida airports are facing ongoing delays and cancellations due to a severe storm system near Georgia that affected flights over the weekend.
Sunday witnessed a continuation of flight disruptions, with airport officials attributing the issues to an overflow of approximately 10,000 passengers unable to travel on Saturday. The surge in air travel, particularly during the spring break season, has led to historically high numbers at the airport compared to the previous year.
Estimates suggest that around 100,000 individuals could be arriving or departing from Tampa International on Sunday alone. To alleviate congestion in the sky caused by the influx of flights, the Federal Aviation Administration has implemented measures to slow down some air traffic.
By 6 p.m. on Saturday, half of the roughly 650 flights in and out of Tampa International Airport had experienced delays, with 82 flights – roughly 13% of the total – being canceled. This surge in delays coincided with what airport officials described as one of their busiest days due to the commencement of local spring breaks.
Airport spokesperson Emily Nipps emphasized the airlines’ commitment to expediting travel for passengers affected by the disruptions while advising travelers to check their flight statuses before heading to the airport, both on the current day and the following day.
It is anticipated that the delays from the weekend will have cascading effects on air travel for the coming days, necessitating proactive communication between airlines and passengers to minimize inconveniences.