Florida flights from Edinburgh cancelled as Hurricane Milton hits US
Edinburgh holidaymakers travelling to Florida are facing cancellations as Hurricane Milton batters the US.
Both Tampa and Orlando airports have closed due to "severe weather conditions" and a state of emergency has been declared ahead of the category five hurricane, Glasgow Live reports.
Disney World and Universal Orlando have shut their parks until Thursday, October 10, as the storm sweeps through the state during the course of Wednesday.
READ NEXT - Police haul Edinburgh Jet2 passengers off flight in front of shocked holidaymakers
READ NEXT - Edinburgh landlord banned by council from letting out 11 Airbnb flats in same block
President Joe Biden warned the storm is set to be one of the worst in 100 years and more than six million people have reportedly been warned to evacuate the area ahead of the storm.
Airlines including TUI, Virgin Atlantic and British Airways have cancelled or delayed a number of flights to Florida - including from Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Orlando airport is expected to open again 6pm (local time) on Thursday, October 10. Tampa Airport has been closed since Tuesday and is due to reopen from 8am on Friday, October 11.
The following Virgin Atlantic flights from Edinburgh Airport are affected:
Wednesday 9 October - VS225 – Edinburgh to Orlando has been delayed by 23 hours and is expected to operate on October 10.
Thursday 10 October - VS225 – Edinburgh – Orlando has been delayed by a further 23 hours and will now operate on Friday 11 October.
A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said: "Due to severe weather conditions expected to be caused by Hurricane Milton, a state of emergency has been declared in Florida, and Tampa and Orlando airports are closing. Unfortunately this has impacted our flying schedule, and services to and from Orlando and Tampa are subject to cancellations and delays.
"The safety and welfare of our customers and crew is our top priority and we are contacting any Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Atlantic Holidays customers who may be impacted by the hurricane to discuss their options and we ask that anyone travelling checks the status of their flights on virginatlantic.com for the latest information.
Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
"We’d like to thank our customers for their patience as we work through the impact of Hurricane Milton."
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has advised travellers to keep an eye on the US National Hurricane Centre website for storm updates and heed local authority instructions, including evacuation orders.
The FCDO also recommends checking with airlines or travel agents regarding potential disruptions. An FCDO spokesperson stated: "We are closely monitoring the development of Hurricane Milton towards the United States. We urge all British nationals in Florida or travelling to the region to follow travel advice and guidance from local authorities."