Hurricane Francine causing cancellations across Gulf Coast airline, cruise travel
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport will remain open "unless conditions become unsafe," airport officials said. As of Wednesday at noon, all flights arriving or departing at New Orleans were canceled.
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Travelers headed to or from the U.S. Gulf Coast from Texas to the Florida Panhandle should make contingency plans, as Hurricane Francine is disrupting travel across the region.
The National Hurricane Center forecasts Francine to make landfall in Louisiana later Wednesday. This system's most dangerous impacts include life-threatening storm surge, dangerous beach conditions and strong winds.
The biggest travel impacts along the Gulf Coast are likely to happen Wednesday afternoon and evening, with lingering effects on Thursday.
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Delta, American Airlines, United and Southwest are all offering vouchers or rebooking at no extra cost to those flying in and out of airports that may be impacted by Francine.
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As Francine makes its final approach, airports are experiencing delays and cancellations on Wednesday, with the most impacts at Houston, New Orleans and Mobile international airports, according to Flightaware.com.
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport will remain open "unless conditions become unsafe," airport officials said. As of Wednesday at noon, airlines canceled all flights arriving or departing in New Orleans.
More airports across the U.S. Gulf Coast will see delays or cancellations from Francine, such as Corpus Christi and Brownsville in Texas and Baton Rouge, Lake Charles and Lafayette in Louisiana. Flights to and from Mobile, Alabama, and Biloxi, Mississippi, could also be delayed or canceled.
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Flights coming from other parts of the country, including those from the western U.S. to Miami or Atlanta, could also be delayed.
By Thursday, most flight schedules across the Gulf Coast should be back on schedule.
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Francine is also impacting cruise line travel along the Texas and Louisiana coasts, home to major ports.
Two ports at the Port of New Orleans are closed on Wednesday, including the New Orleans Terminal and Ports America, including the LA Ave. Chassis Terminal.
Cruisemummy.com reports Carnival Valor and Carnival Liberty were set to sail from New Orleans on Wednesday.
"Guests and travel advisor partners are encouraged to monitor text and email advisories about our operational plans for Carnival Valor’s Sept. 12 cruise. Guests can sign up for alerts by texting CCL1 to CRUISE (278473)," Carnival Cruise Line wrote in an update.
Royal Caribbean has two ships that may be impacted by Francine.
On Thursday, lingering impacts from Francine are possible in the South as remnants of the storm are forecast to track north into the U.S. through Alabama, Arkansas and Tennessee.