Latest Updates On Hurricane Debby And Impact On Travel

Debby is now officially a hurricane. The slow-moving storm has been upgraded to
hurricane status as it made landfall in what is known as the Big Bend area of
Florida.

Carriers have reacted appropriately by
offering waivers and no change fees, including American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and
Delta Air Lines. As of 8 a.m. ET on Monday, August 5, flight tracking service FlightAware.com is reporting nearly 1,000 canceled
flights in the United States.

That would add to the almost 2,200 flights that
have already been canceled in the last several days.

Logan Airport in Boston has become something
of a de facto facility for diverted flights from other Northeast airports
that are trying to fly south. Air travelers are urged to check with their
respective airlines for any changes, delays and cancellations.

As the storm moves up the east coast of the U.S., the fear is that Delta, with headquarters at the world’s busiest airport in Atlanta, will suffer, and this is just as it has been recovering from the technology outage two weeks ago.

Though the storm is not as powerful as previous hurricanes, it is packed with rain, high winds and storm surges, which can compromise travel. Orlando International and Tampa International are two of the top three airports that have already been greatly affected by the storm. 

And not just the airlines are impacted.

Carnival Cruise Line said it will continue
to monitor the storm as the Port of Tampa was closed on Sunday. The cruise
company even bumped up the departure of the Elation from Jacksonville,
Florida, by a day.

It also sent the following text to guests:

“We thank our guests for their cooperation
and understanding as we continue to monitor forecasts and factor in guidance
from the National Hurricane Center, U.S. Coast Guard and the local port
authorities to provide timely updates. For more information, visit Carnival.com,
where weather-related information is available at the top of the homepage.”

Flash flooding is
also making it difficult to travel by automobile.

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