Nationwide bad weather delivered another day of bad luck for air travelers flying to and from South Florida, forcing hundreds of flight delays and cancellations Tuesday at the region’s three international airports.
Travelers who sought local emergency lodging reportedly found hotels fully booked with Spring Breakers and seasonal vacationers.
The tracking service FlightAware showed Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport had 208 delays and 90 cancellations a short time past noon after travelers suffered through 429 delays and 286 cancellations on Monday.
Thunderstorms caused a ground stop Monday evening, and in turn, diverted flights.
One traveler reported early Tuesday he was experiencing a 10-hour delay and saw hundreds of people sleeping in a Fort Lauderdale terminal.
Miami International Airport had 228 delays and 48 cancellations ahead of noon on Tuesday after absorbing 450 delays and 307 cancellations the day before.
“A rough night for airports across Florida,” said spokesperson Greg Chin. “Due to thunderstorms across the state, MIA had a ground stop between 8:00 and 8:30 last night for all inbound flights, followed by departure delays on and off between 9 p.m. and midnight.”
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, departures from Miami were being delayed Tuesday by an average of 15 minutes “and increasing.”
Palm Beach International Airport, which does not handle as much daily traffic as the Broward and Miami-Dade county airports, still started Tuesday with 77 delays and 27 cancellations after being subjected to 119 delays and 95 canceled flights the day before, according to FlightAware.
“Yesterday’s weather impacts across multiple regions did result in some delays and cancellations affecting flights into and out of Palm Beach International Airport,” said spokesperson Rebeca Krogman. “Operations have improved compared to yesterday; however, some delays and cancellations continue due to weather and residual impacts.”
She said the airport continues to encourage travelers to arrive at the airport two hours prior to scheduled departures and to double check with their airlines for the most current flight information.
The delays weren’t limited to South Florida.
Kelly Price, who was trying to get home to Colorado after a family vacation in Orlando, said her Sunday night flight wasn’t canceled until early Monday.
“By that time the only place for us to sleep was the airport floor. So we’re all tired and frustrated,” she said, adding that the soonest she and her family could book another flight doesn’t leave until Tuesday afternoon.
Shutdown aggravates slowdown
Besides the weather, a partial federal government shutdown continued to cause lines at airport terminals nationwide as TSA checkpoint screeners called out of work because they are not getting paid, according to The Associated Press. The shutdown, which started Feb. 14, has caused personnel shortages around the country for more than a month.
At an Atlanta news conference Monday outside Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, TSA union leaders warned that travelers could face increasingly long wait times as the shutdown continues. But they said many officers are still working despite mounting financial strain.
Many TSA workers “are coping with eviction notices, vehicle repossessions, empty refrigerators and overdrawn bank accounts,” said Aaron Barker, a local leader with the American Federation of Government Employees. Supporters behind him held signs reading, “We want a paycheck, not a rain check.”
Information from The Associated Press is included in this report.