UPDATE: Delta cancels 800 flights; braces for ATL impact of Irma

Officials at Atlanta-headquartered Delta Air Lines have decided to cancel about 800 flights Monday as Hurricane Irma is expected to bring to the hub at Hartsfield-Atlanta International Airport (ATL) strong crosswinds that exceed operating limits on select mainline and regional aircraft.

The issue is Irma’s anticipated general north-south wind direction relative to Atlanta’s east-west runway configuration, which would create significant crosswind components. A slight crosswind is allowable and can be safely managed, but a 40 mph or greater crosswind, as the storm is expected to bring in Atlanta, may exceed allowable limits.

Delta flight departs SEA
Because aircraft are best suited to take off and land into the wind for better performance, all airports position their runways with the prevailing winds at their location.

The five runways at ATL are aligned with the Atlanta area's prevailing winds, which are generally from the east or west. The winds from #HurricaneIrma are not forecast to follow that pattern.

Wind shear, lighting and other convective weather are also possible in the vicinity of Atlanta and may prompt additional flight cancellations.

Florida restart

Meanwhile, Delta teams have set their sights on resuming service to Florida airports,. many of which have been closed since Friday. Delta expects reports from airport authorities throughout the state Monday on the condition of runways, taxiways and terminal infrastructure, some of which sustained damage. Updates are expected throughout the morning and will determine Delta’s Florida restart.

Station Flights Suspended Flights to Resume
Caribbean
St. Maarten (SXM) Wed. Sept. 6 Restart TBD**
St. Thomas (STT) Wed. Sept. 6 Restart TBD**
San Juan (SJU) Thurs. Sept. 7 Restarted operations Fri., Sept. 8
Punta Cana (PUJ) No Impact No Impact
Santiago (STI) Wed. Sept. 6 Restarted operations Fri., Sept. 8
Port-au-Prince (PAP) No impact No impact
Providenciales (PLS) Wed. Sept. 6 Restart TBD**
Nassau (NAS) Fri. Sept. 8 Restart TBD**
Georgetown/Exuma (GGT) Sat., Sept. 9 Restart TBD**
Marsh Harbor (MHH) Sat., Sept. 9 Restart TBD**
Freeport (FPO) Sat., Sept. 9 Restart TBD**
Florida
Key West (EYW) Fri. Sept. 8 Restart anticipated Tues. Sept. 12, afternoon**
Ft. Lauderdale (FLL) 8 p.m. Fri., Sept. 8 Restart planned Mon., Sept. 11, afternoon
West Palm Beach (PBI) 8 p.m. Fri., Sept. 8 Restart planned Mon., Sept. 11, afternoon
Ft. Meyers (RSW) 2 p.m. Sat., Sept. 9 Restart tentatively Tues. Sept. 12**
Sarasota (SRQ) Sun., Sept. 10 Restart tentatively planned Mon., Sept. 11**
Melbourne (MLB) 5 p.m. Sat., Sept. 9 Restart planned Mon., Sept. 11, afternoon
Tampa (TPA) Sun., Sept. 10 Restart tentatively Tues., Sept. 12**
Orlando (MCO) 5 p.m. Sat., Sept. 9 Restart planned Mon., Sept. 11, evening
Daytona Beach (DAB) 6 p.m. Sat., Sept. 9 Restart planned Tues. Sept. 12
Gainesville, FL (GNV) 9 p.m., Sat. Sept. 9 Limited flights Sun., Sept. 10 and continue Sept. 11
Jacksonville (JAX) 7 p.m. Sat., Sept. 9 Restart planned Mon., Sept. 11, afternoon
Tallahassee (TLH) Operational Plan TBD Limited flights Sun., Sept. 10 and continue Sept. 11
Georgia
Brunswick (BQK) Limited flights Sun., Sept. 10 and continue Sept. 11 Limited flights Sun., Sept. 10 and continue Sept. 11
Valdosta (VLD) Sun., Sept. 10 Restart tentatively Mon., Sept. 11**
Albany (ABY) Sun., Sept. 10 Restart tentatively Mon., Sept. 11**
Savannah (SAV) 3 p.m. Sun. Sept. 10 Restart tentatively Mon., Sept. 11**
** - Pending infrastructure assessment

Operational plans are to be determined for Chattanooga (CHA) and Nashville (BNA) airports in Tennessee and Dothan (DHN), Birmingham (BHM), Huntsville (HSV), Montgomery (MGM), and Mobile (MOB) airports in Alabama.

Delta encourages customers to check the status of their flight before leaving for the airport on the Fly Delta app or at delta.com. Delta recommends that customers transiting the airline's Atlanta hub Monday modify their itineraries around the city on delta.com.

Delta has combined and consolidated fee waivers through Sept. 17 for customers transiting three dozen destinations where flights will be affected by Irma, and created a new waiver for St. Thomas, St. Maarten and Turks and Caicos for customers ticketed through Oct. 31.

Meanwhile, at St. Thomas on Monday, Delta will operate a humanitarian flight bringing in recovery supplies and will return 150 U.S. citizens to Atlanta. Additional humanitarian flights are expected throughout the week to destinations in the Caribbean.

As with all carriers that serve the area affected by Irma, Delta continues to examine when regularly scheduled service may resume. Travelers with plans to fly into or near the area affected by the hurricane should stay in touch with their airline via the airline's web page and Twitter feed.

Visit my main page at TheTravelPro.us for more news, reviews, and personal observations on the world of upmarket travel.



Photo by Carl Dombek
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