Bad weather can mean canceled and delayed flights. Hurricanes and tropical storms can mean the entire airport has to close.
Tampa International Airport is working "very closely" with the National Weather Service again this year to mitigate the effects travelers feel.
Airport spokesperson Emily Nipps said the facility never wants to close but sometimes it is necessary.
"We want to get people out as quickly as possible, especially when people are trying to just get out of the state because of the storm,” Nipps said.
Officials decide to close the airport, which is in Evacuation Zone A, when it is no longer safe for people to be there.
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They have a lot of factors to consider, including how quickly the storm is moving and how long their hurricane preparations will take.
“Everybody who works at the airport really has to really get things ready to make sure that they can close down safely,” she said.
Officials also try to close the airport to give stranded passengers enough time to get home, to a hotel or to a hurricane shelter so they do not get caught on the roads during the storm.
Airport staff also need time to secure the airport, which Nipps said is more than just turning off the lights and locking the door.
What's involved in airport prep
The airport has dozens of jet bridges, which can take an hour each to tie down. Patio furniture, shuttles, ground equipment and construction debris need to be secured as well.
Planes also have to leave.
“At some point, we have to cut those flights off and the airlines want to get their aircraft out of the area,” Nipps said. “That sometimes happens several hours ahead of any predicted landfall."
The airport can typically reopen once debris is cleared and the storm has passed.
Nipps said taking the time to secure everything before the storm can make the reopening process quicker.
“We’ve typically been able to open the airport within 12 hours after the storm passes, sometimes a little longer, sometimes less,” Nipps said. “It just depends on the storm.”
Check your flight status
Nipps also said just because the airport is open doesn't mean flights are on time – or even departing.
The first thing travelers need to do is check with their airlines for the status of their flight before they arrive.
"You need to check direct with the airlines because even if we are open, there are gonna be some airlines that are going to be operating more quickly than others,” Nipps said.
If a flight gets canceled, any refunding or rescheduling needs to be done with the airline – not Tampa International Airport. Nipps said that is a common misconception among travelers.
Even if the airport is not facing a tropical storm or hurricane, airport operations can be affected by nearby lightning, which makes it unsafe for ground crews.
Officials suggested booking flights that leave earlier in the day to avoid delays from Florida's typical afternoon storms.
Nipps also advised travelers to check the weather across the country because bad weather in other states can still cause delays in Tampa.
