PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — A combination of weather issues, staffing shortages, and heavy spring break travel is disrupting flights at Palm Beach International Airport on Tuesday morning, causing cancellations and delays for travelers across South Florida.
Airport officials reported about a dozen flight cancellations early Tuesday, with delays continuing to mount as the morning progressed.
Several outbound flights were canceled, including routes to Atlanta, Houston, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Orlando, New York’s LaGuardia Airport, and Hartford, Connecticut. Additional departures to Fort Lauderdale, New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, Atlanta, Islip, New York, and Boston were delayed.
Arrivals were also impacted, with cancellations reported from Westchester County Airport in New York and multiple disruptions involving flights from Washington, D.C., and JFK Airport. The disruptions have left some travelers unable to reach Palm Beach County.
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The travel issues extend beyond West Palm Beach. At Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, long lines were reported at check-in, with crowds spilling outside terminals and passengers waiting in extended queues inside. Similar conditions were reported at airports in Miami, Tampa, and Orlando.
Officials say the disruptions are the result of a “perfect storm” of factors, including weather-related delays, staffing shortages linked to the partial government shutdown, and an increase in passenger volume during the spring break travel season.
Travelers are advised to arrive early, check their flight status before heading to the airport, and allow extra time for security screening as delays are expected to continue.