Seeking to fly out of SRQ forward of Ian? Good luck with that

Manatee County

Guests in search of to fly out of Sarasota Bradenton Worldwide Airport forward of Hurricane Ian are discovering seats exhausting to return by.

And it’s not simply SRQ experiencing a crush of vacationers seeking to depart the state.

“We had been attempting to be proactive forward of the storm and had been prepared to journey so far as Jacksonville. Now almost certainly they received’t be capable to get out and may need to drive again to New York,” mentioned Sean Klentzin, a Florida resident who was attempting to assist visiting relations fly out of the state.

Saturday, the household tried to alter a JetBlue flight scheduled for Tuesday, however the airline wouldn’t change the flight with out a $1,000 charge, he mentioned.

In response to the Bradenton Herald’s request for remark, JetBlue mentioned in an electronic mail Monday there aren’t any change or cancellation charges on most of its fares, besides Blue Fundamental the place the charge is $100 per particular person.

Resulting from Tropical Storm Ian, Jet Blue has waived change/cancel charges and fare variations for patrons touring Monday by means of Friday from SRQ, Tampa, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Seaside, Orlando, Fort Myers and Jacksonville, the airline mentioned.

Rick Piccolo, president and CEO of Sarasota Bradenton Worldwide Airport, mentioned that flights had been fairly full even earlier than the method of Ian.

“I’m positive there are many individuals attempting to get on a flight. It’s provide and demand,” he mentioned.

As of Monday morning, there had been no flight cancellations at SRQ, however the airport has been intently monitoring Ian since final week, Piccolo mentioned.

Airport workers briefed all airport tenants and workers Monday morning on Ian, however there have been no modifications in airport operations but.

“It’s just a little early. We should see how the storm tracks,” Piccolo mentioned, urging vacationers to control their airline and their reservation standing.

Monday morning, there was a hurricane watch from Englewood within the south to the Anclote River, together with Tampa Bay within the north, together with Manatee, Sarasota, Pinellas and coastal Hillsborough counties.

Passengers will not be allowed to remain within the SRQ terminal throughout a tropical storm or hurricane.

“The airport shouldn’t be a shelter,” Piccolo mentioned.

Throughout Monday afternoon’s Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority assembly, Piccolo mentioned that it depends upon the airways and the climate, however that he thought that the airport would possibly shut on the newest Wednesday afternoon, and probably reopen Friday.

The airport shall be locked up in the course of the time that the airport is closed and solely important personnel, together with police, firefighters and upkeep, could be on obligation, he mentioned.

The air site visitors management tower closes each time winds hit 75 mph, he mentioned.

This story was initially printed September 26, 2022 11:49 AM.