Tampa International Airport (TPA) will suspend all commercial and cargo operations ahead of Hurricane Milton, beginning at 9am on Tuesday.
The Tampa airport will remain closed to the public until it can assess any damage after the storm. TPA plans to resume services as soon as it is safe to do so later this week, but passengers should check with their airlines regarding flight schedules.
Tampa International Airport and its partners will use the time ahead of the suspension to prepare the airfield and terminals, including the securing of jet bridges, ground equipment and any remaining aircraft before the storm arrives. The three other public airports managed by the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority – Peter O. Knight, Tampa Executive and Plant City Airports – will also close in a similar timeframe.
TPA, including the Main Terminal and Airsides, will not be open for public use and is not equipped to function as a shelter for people or vehicles. The Airport is in an “A” evacuation zone and will not be staffed to assist others with supplies or assistance, nor will emergency services be able to respond to calls or transport individuals to or from the Airport.
For the same reason, parking garages will also be closed to the public during the suspension of operations, and people are asked not to bring vehicles to the Airport for parking.
Travelers are urged to heed emergency management advisories and pay close attention to public safety alerts. Currently, Hurricane Milton is forecast to bring potentially catastrophic storm surge, high winds and heavy rain to Tampa Bay and all of Florida’s Gulf Coast.
The Tampa airport anticipates reopening after Hurricane Milton once a damage assessment that will begin as soon as it is safe to do so. TPA will closely coordinate the reopening of the Airport with its partners, including the Transportation Security Administration and airlines, based on roadway safety, facility readiness and staffing. Any changes to the timing will be promptly communicated.
The airport provided these important reminders for passengers:
- Please contact your airline for the latest flight information. TPA will announce if flight operations are affected by the storm, but airlines are responsible for their schedules.
- Monitor the weather closely. Please stay up to date on forecasts for your area and any regions to which you may be traveling to or from.
- Follow TPA social media for the latest updates. Our account on X (formerly Twitter), @FlyTPA, will be the place to find the latest updates.
- TPA will notify the public of our timeline to reopen when the decision to do so safely has been made.
Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Orlando Executive Airport (ORL) will cease commercial passenger and private operations in advance of Hurricane Milton on Wednesday morning, October 9th.
