Scott Powers
Orlando International Airport is preparing to reopen for flights noon Wednesday, airport officials announced.
With Hurricane Dorian putting Central Florida in its side-view mirror Wednesday, Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) officials, consulting with the National Weather Service and others, determined it is safe to reopen the state’s busiest airport.
However, some of the flights previously scheduled to arrive or depart Wednesday afternoon may be phased back into service, depending upon stationing of airplanes while the storm swept past Florida.
Noon was determined to be the earliest time Orlando International could reasonably resume normal operations, allowing time for damage assessment, sweeping the airfield for debris, security preparations, staff callbacks for airport and federal agency employees and preparations for ground service equipment, GOAA explained in a news release.
The Orlando airport was closed at 2 a.m. Tuesday in preparations for Hurricane Dorian.
Passengers should contact their airlines prior to arriving at the airport to ensure their flights are available, airport officials advised. Air carriers will begin phasing of flight operations beginning later Wednesday afternoon.
Also around Central Florida:
— Orlando Sanford International Airport, which closed Monday afternoon, is preparing to open 1 p.m. Wednesday.
— Orlando Melbourne International Airport, which closed Monday morning, as of 8:30 a.m. Wednesday had not announced reopening plans.
— Daytona Beach International Airport, which closed Monday afternoon, also had not yet announced reopening plans.
Orlando International is the busiest airport in the state. The airport’s daily scope of operations includes an average daily passenger count of 140,000 and more than 850 aircraft operations.
