WEST BAY — Airport officials are urging passengers to check with airlines for delays and cancellations as the East Coast braces for a severe winter storm on the busiest travel day of the year.
“Right now it’s very important you stay in touch with your airlines,” said Richard McConnell, deputy executive director of the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP). “The airport is going to be open; it’s just a matter of whether there will be delays due to the weather.”
Though the airport saw only minor flight delays Tuesday, McConnell said the storm potentially could affect Southwest Airlines flights into Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI).
“The only concern we could possibly have is later on as (the storm) moves up the eastern corridor into the Baltimore area,” McConnell said. “Depending on what the weather does, that could affect us here.”
Delta Air Lines, which flies 14 times daily between Atlanta and ECP, issued an advisory for travelers to New York, Baltimore, Boston, Washington, D.C., and other northeastern cities, stating that canceled or significantly delayed flights to these areas Wednesday can be changed or refunded.
Southwest spokesman Dan Landson said the airline started to see delays across the Northeast on Tuesday night.
“There are no cancellations yet, but delays are starting to show up,” said Landson, noting that Baltimore was not yet on the list. “We’re preparing and just watching the weather and making adjustments.”
Landson recommended passengers check flight status on Southwest.com for the latest flight status updates and added that the airline does not charge fees to change flights.
Tuesday travel
McConnell said Tuesday’s rain event in the Panhandle had little effect on flights at ECP and traffic remained steady throughout the day.
“The traffic is pretty heavy, but we’re accommodating everyone so far,” McConnell said. Today “and Sunday tend to be the busiest days, but so far, so good.”
Jim Cosper flew into ECP from Wilmington, N.C., on Tuesday morning and said he battled heavy holiday travel crowds while changing flights in Atlanta.
“I saw a lot of people sprinting and a lot of people walking really slow because they knew they already missed their flight,” Cosper said. “I was one of the ones sprinting.”
Cosper was thankful to board his connecting flight after a considerable delay in Wilmington.
“I had two flights getting in here and it was pretty bumpy the whole way,” said Cosper, who flew in to visit his parents in Panama City.
After a rainy drive to ECP on Tuesday morning, Tallahassee resident Ebony Seay also expressed angst about connecting through Atlanta on her way to visit family in San Antonio.
“It hasn’t really been too stressful so far,” Seay said. “I’m just really worried about trying to get out of Atlanta before it gets too bad.”
Airport officials also warned travelers of ongoing construction on a new covered parking lot, and suggested travelers plan to arrive 10 to 15 minutes earlier to ensure timely navigation of the rerouted short and long-term parking areas.
“The construction won’t cause major parking disruptions,” said Executive Director Parker McClellan. “But even minor changes such as these can throw off a travel schedule if you’re not expecting them