Severe storms, staffing shortages and traffic left hundreds of people stranded at Orlando International Airport on Sunday. Multiple flights have been canceled throughout the weekend. “They told us the first flight we’ll get is 9 O’clock ,” Southwest Airlines passenger Minerva Olson said. Olson had plans to be in Las Vegas by Sunday night until her flight was canceled.”They didn’t even give us a note until five o’clock which is when we were already at the airport,” Olson said. “If we knew that earlier in time, we could’ve just booked another airline.”With spring break season in full swing, OIA has seen an estimate of more than 150,000 travelers come through the terminals on Saturday. “Half an hour before we were supposed to be boarding was just suddenly canceled and we’re broke college students trying to get back after spring break,” passenger Amanda Romano said. “Now we can’t get a flight until Wednesday halfway through the middle of our classes.”Some travelers have been dealing with longer than expected vacations. “They didn’t have any flights at all Saturday going to where I’m going and then the earliest one they’ll have is like at 9:52,” passenger Dale Moreland said. “I got here Friday by cab.”Some travelers have been trying to find another way to get back home. “Unfortunately they don’t have anything until Wednesday so I have to go to work so I’m going to drive,” passenger Katie Sharbaugh said. “I rented a car, got a hotel for the night and I’m going to drive back.”Sharbaugh will drive from Orlando to Pittsburgh on Monday. She said it’s already been a stressful and costly travel experience. “I just spent an additional $600 booking hotels and rental cars on top of the $500 flight to get here and back,” Sharbaugh said. “I’ve never had this level of an issue.”Passengers are advised to check with their airline directly for any updates about their flight. The airport is expecting to see busier days ahead with Easter approaching. Orlando International says this Spring Break period should be much busier than last year: 35% more people coming through the airport, which works out to more than seven million people over the two month period.
Severe storms, staffing shortages and traffic left hundreds of people stranded at Orlando International Airport on Sunday. Multiple flights have been canceled throughout the weekend.
“They told us the first flight we’ll get is 9 O’clock [on Monday],” Southwest Airlines passenger Minerva Olson said.
Olson had plans to be in Las Vegas by Sunday night until her flight was canceled.
“They didn’t even give us a note until five o’clock [Sunday] which is when we were already at the airport,” Olson said. “If we knew that earlier in time, we could’ve just booked another airline.”
With spring break season in full swing, OIA has seen an estimate of more than 150,000 travelers come through the terminals on Saturday.
“Half an hour before we were supposed to be boarding [our flight] was just suddenly canceled and we’re broke college students trying to get back after spring break,” passenger Amanda Romano said. “Now we can’t get a flight until Wednesday halfway through the middle of our classes.”
Some travelers have been dealing with longer than expected vacations.
“They didn’t have any flights at all Saturday going to where I’m going and then the earliest one they’ll have [Sunday night] is like at 9:52,” passenger Dale Moreland said. “I got here Friday by cab.”
Some travelers have been trying to find another way to get back home.
“Unfortunately they don’t have anything until Wednesday so I have to go to work so I’m going to drive,” passenger Katie Sharbaugh said. “I rented a car, got a hotel for the night and I’m going to drive back.”
Sharbaugh will drive from Orlando to Pittsburgh on Monday. She said it’s already been a stressful and costly travel experience.
“I just spent an additional $600 booking hotels and rental cars on top of the $500 flight to get here and back,” Sharbaugh said. “I’ve never had this level of an issue.”
Passengers are advised to check with their airline directly for any updates about their flight. The airport is expecting to see busier days ahead with Easter approaching.
Orlando International says this Spring Break period should be much busier than last year: 35% more people coming through the airport, which works out to more than seven million people over the two month period.