Orlando Airport Closes Due to Hurricane Milton, Canceling Nearly 1,000 Flights

Hurricane Milton is already impacting flights at Orlando International Airport.

As the potentially historically devastating Hurricane Milton bears down on Florida, the storm’s effects are already being felt at Orlando International Airport (MCO). Known as one of the busiest airports in the U.S., the Orlando International Airport typically processes thousands of flights a day.

By the early morning hours of October 9th — the day Milton is forecast to potentially make landfall — MCO has already ceased commercial operations, leading to the cancelations of over 820 flights into and out of the airport.

Operational Update/6 – Hurricane Milton
Our airport has now ceased commercial operations in anticipation of the arrival of Hurricane Milton. We'll resume operations as soon as it's safe, based on damage assessments, and keep you updated with the latest information. Stay safe, FL. pic.twitter.com/eZnkRyKSO1

— Orlando International Airport (@MCO) October 9, 2024

According to the announcement on the airport’s X (formerly Twitter) posted at 8:09AM on the 9th, “Our airport has now ceased commercial operations in anticipation of the arrival of Hurricane Milton. We’ll resume operations as soon as it’s safe, based on damage assessments, and keep you updated with the latest information. Stay safe, FL.”

The closure of MCO is just one of many as Florida battens down the hatches in preparation for Milton. These include closure and shifted hours at Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Sea World.

The most recent updates from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) warn that Milton is still forecast to make landfall on the evening of October 9th as a “dangerous, major hurricane.”

…#MILTON REMAINS A CATASTROPHIC CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE…

…FORECAST TO MAKE LANDFALL ON THE FLORIDA GULF COAST LATE TONIGHT AS A DANGEROUS MAJOR HURRICANE…

Follow https://t.co/dv1LkCViaN for the latest advisories. pic.twitter.com/WwlbUEHCyO

— National Hurricane Center (@NWSNHC) October 9, 2024

Orlando International Airport (MCO) has shut down — triggering a massive amount of flight cancelations — in preparation for Hurricane Milton. Stay tuned to AllEars for further updates on Milton, as we continue to monitor the storm.

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Have you ever been scheduled to fly into or out of MCO during a massive storm? Let us know about your experience below.