Hurricane Helene Wreaks Havoc on Travel

Thousands of flights in the US and Canada have been canceled or delayed as Hurricane Helene continues to strengthen over the Gulf of Mexico, wreaking havoc on travel this week.

If your travels have been affected, be sure to follow us on X (formerly Twitter) for the latest updates, and read below for information on how Canadian airlines are handling the situation.

Over 900 flights into and out of #Florida have so far been cancelled as #hurricanehelene , now a category 2 continues to gain strength. US airports seeing the biggest impacts are in Atlanta, Fort Myers and Tampa which has suspended all flights until tomorrow. @TorontoPearson… pic.twitter.com/GYl7LbJOj3

— Prince of Travel (@princeoftravel) September 26, 2024

Hurricane Helene Wreaks Havoc On Travel

As of early afternoon Eastern Time on Thursday, September 26, 2024, a total of 1,038 flights had been canceled and 1,672 delayed according to flight tracking website FlightAware.

Tampa International Airport (TPA), St. Pete-Clearwater International (PIE), and Tallahassee International Airport (TLH) have all suspended operations until they deem it’s safe to resume flights.

Several other airports in Florida, which Hurricane Helene is expected to hit the hardest, remain open but report delays and cancellations. Passengers looking to fly in or out of affected airports are being told to check their flight status.

The same is being said here in Canada. Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) says it’s keeping a very close eye on the situation south of the border, adding the severe weather could impact flights into and out of Toronto. Travellers can check for flight cancellations and delays on the airport’s website.

Meanwhile, Air Canada, WestJet, and Porter Airlines have all issued travel advisories to areas affected by Hurricane Helene including Atlanta (ATL), Orlando (MCO), Tampa (TPA), Fort Myers (RSW), and Miami (MIA). The advisory is in effect through Friday, September 27, but could possibly be extended.

Air Canada has also activated its hurricane and tropical storm policy which states that if the US National Hurricane Center issues a hurricane watch or a hurricane or tropical storm warning for your destination within seven days of your departure you can do the following:

If your trip has not yet started, you can:

• Cancel your reservation: If you purchased a refundable fare, you’ll receive a full refund. If you purchased a non-refundable ticket, they’ll transfer the full amount paid into your AC Wallet or to a Future Travel Credit valid for one year.
• Choose a new travel date (subject to availability), earlier than originally planned or up to and including 14 days after your original departure date and you won’t pay any difference in fare.
• Choose a new destination – just pay any difference in fare.

If your trip has already started, you can:

• Return early (subject to availability)
• Cancel your reservation (Air Canada will transfer the difference into your AC Wallet or to a Future Travel Credit valid for one year)

WestJet has also issued a travel advisory for Atlanta and parts of Florida, as well has activated its Hurricane/Tropical Storm promise.

As a result, the airline says it may experience delays and cancellations to those areas affected by the hurricane. The airline is advising all guests to check the status of their flight prior to leaving for the airport.

WestJet is also providing regular updates on its website as the travel situation changes.

Porter Airlines has issued a Travel Alert/Advisory for Fort Lauderdale and Orlando and tells Prince of Travel they are keeping a close watch on the situation south of the border.

If you booked your trip with a credit card that has travel insurance, be sure to contact the issuer for guidance on what’s covered.

As far as Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR) are concerned, situations like this are considered outside of the carrier’s control, and you won’t be due any compensation due to any delays or cancellations.

However, airlines are still required to get you to your final destination. Therefore, prior to deciding to refund your flights, bear in mind that you’ll be on the hook for paying for new flights, which could be quite costly at the last minute.

Conclusion

Thousands of flights into and out of the US and Canada have been cancelled or delayed as Hurricane Helene prepares to make landfall in Florida.

Air Canada, WestJet, and Porter Airlines have all issued travel advisories for areas affected by the hurricane, and tell any guests booked on flights over the next few days to check the flight status before heading to the airport.

Prince of Travel has been keeping a close eye on the changing weather situation. For regular updates, follow us on X (formerly Twitter).