The airport said it would be closed for a short time to get ready for Hurricane Milton. Did it open again?
Both coming and going planes were canceled before Hurricane Milton hit. Several airports in Florida, including Orlando International Airport (MCO), were closed until Thursday, October 10. People in and around Orlando are wondering when the airport will reopen, if it hasn’t already, now that Milton is gone.
Hurricane Milton’s Damage in Florida
A lot of towns in Florida are being destroyed or flooded right now. In Fort Myers, Siesta Key, and Tampa, neighborhoods were flooded with water. Palm tree branches littered the streets, and some buildings fell into the roads. The storm hurt even Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays.
Is the Orlando Airport still open after Milton?
The website for Orlando International Airport says that operations and passenger planes began again on Friday, October 11. At 10 p.m. on Tuesday, October 8, the airport said it had “ceased operations.”
Before Hurricane Milton hit land, MCO wrote on its website, “As of 8 a.m. today, Orlando International Airport (MCO) ceased commercial operations in preparation for Hurricane Milton.” “The airports are not closed; they are just not functional at this time. They will stay open to receive emergency aid and relief flights as needed.” After the damage is checked out, both airports will reopen as soon as possible.
Operational Update #7 – Hurricane Milton
Emergency crews remained onsite overnight, and damage assessment will start taking place now. Once information becomes available about a specific time that commercial operations will resume, we’ll be sure to post about it. pic.twitter.com/YH9Ftlv9fc— Orlando International Airport (@MCO) October 10, 2024
“GOAA wants to remind the public that MCO is not an authorized shelter,” MCO said on its website. People who live in the area cannot use the airport during bad weather. We are going to keep an eye on the storm and let you know if we need to.
It was hard for almost 1,000 planes the day before Milton hit Florida. The airport website says that the last flight with people on board was one to Detroit. It was also made clear by MCO that storm plans are “continuing throughout the facility,” which includes “securing the Gate Link and Terminal Link trams to and from the airsides, Terminal C, and the Train Station.”
Nearby Melbourne Orlando Airport was also closed, and a video shared by USA Today on X shows that the storm tore a hole in part of the roof.
Hurricane Milton damages Melbourne Orlando International Airport by putting a 30-foot hole in its ceiling. @Florida_Today pic.twitter.com/6zD5aAmhVb
— USA TODAY Video (@usatodayvideo) October 10, 2024
When Hurricane Milton hit, did it hit Orlando?
At this point, it’s not clear how many people or companies Milton affected. But Orlando was in Milton’s way. Even so, Fort Myers, Tampa, and other nearby places were hit the hardest by the storm.