Tampa International Airport (TPA) will suspend all commercial and cargo operations starting at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday due to the approaching Hurricane Milton. The airport will remain closed to the public until it is safe to assess any potential damage after the storm. Authorities have indicated that operations will resume as soon as conditions allow, but passengers are advised to stay in contact with their airlines for updated flight information.
In preparation for the suspension, the airport and its partners have secured facilities, including jet bridges, ground equipment, and any remaining aircraft. The other airports managed by the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority—Peter O. Knight, Tampa Executive, and Plant City—will also close around the same time.
The airport will not be open to the public during the suspension. According to airport authorities, **TPA is not equipped to function as a shelter** for people or vehicles. Located in an «A» evacuation zone, the airport will not have staff available to provide supplies or assistance during this period, and emergency services will not be able to respond to calls or transport individuals to or from the airport.
In addition, the airport’s parking garages will be closed during the suspension, and people are asked **not to bring vehicles to the airport** for parking during the storm.
Local authorities are urging travelers to closely follow emergency management advisories and pay attention to public safety alerts. Hurricane Milton is forecast to bring dangerous storm surges, strong winds, and heavy rain to Tampa Bay and Florida’s Gulf Coast.
The airport plans to reopen after a thorough damage assessment, which will be conducted as soon as it is safe. TPA will coordinate its reopening with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and airlines, considering road safety, facility readiness, and staff availability. Any changes in the reopening timeline will be communicated promptly.
Passengers are encouraged to stay in touch with their airlines for the latest flight information, as airlines are responsible for their schedules. It’s also important for travelers to monitor weather forecasts, both in their current location and in the regions they plan to travel to. For additional updates, passengers can follow TPA’s official social media accounts, particularly on X (@FlyTPA). The airport will inform the public when it is safe to resume operations.
