Travel Alert: Hurricane Francine’s Impact on Flights and Port of New Orleans Closure

Hurricane Francine brought “heavy rains and wind gusts” up to hurricane force to Metropolitan New Orleans on Wednesday night, as the storm slammed the Louisiana coast before passing through the city.

Winds strengthened to 90 mph as the storm approached the coast, according to the NHC, which issued a Hurricane Warning for the Louisiana coast from the Vermilion/Cameron Line eastward to Grand Isle. New Orleans is north of Grand Isle, just about 100 miles inland.

While New Orleans and the surrounding area bunkered down on Wednesday night, there was some good news. Francine was downgraded to a tropical storm shortly after arriving in the city, with the wind dying down. Flooding still remains a major issue.

The NHC now also says that “rapid weakening is forecast, and Francine is expected to become a tropical depression by late Thursday and a post-tropical cyclone Thursday night or early Friday,” which could spell some relief for a North American travel industry already dealing with a major pilot strike.

Flight cancellations

Many flights departing Louisiana and Texas airport Wednesday were canceled, with more cancelations expected as Francine moves north. According to FlightAware, this is the flight impact as of 3 p.m. EST on Wednesday: 

• New Orleans International (MSY): 59% of all departures canceled (65 flights total). 
• Houston Bush International (IAH): 5% of all departures canceled (31 flights total). 
• Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW): 19 departures, which is just 1% of its schedule, are canceled. 
• Baton Rouge Metro (BTR): 63% of all departures are canceled. 
• Lafayette Regional/Paul Fournet Field (LFT): 47% of all departures are canceled. 

For Thursday, the schedule is significantly better through many of those same airports. The only airport currently with a significant amount of flight disruptions due to Francine is New Orleans International, which has 33% of all departures canceled (54 flights total). 

Airline waivers

Airline waivers are available to passengers whose flights are affected by the storm. Air Canada, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, Southwest, and United have all issued change fee waivers for airports in the area. 

Air Canada has a waiver for travel through New Orleans (MSY) on Sept. 11 and Sept. 12, allowing ticket holders to make changes without penalty, space permitting.

American Airlines has a waiver for travel through Sept. 13 for most of its airports in the area including New Orleans (MSY), Houston Hobby (HOU), Houston George Bush Intercontinental (IAH), Corpus Christi (CRP), Monroe (MLU), Mobile (MOB), and Jackson (JAN). The waiver allows for changes for new travel through Sept. 17.  

Delta has a waiver through Sept. 13 for travel through Alexandria International (AEX), Baton Rouge (BTR), Gulfport-Biloxi (GPT), Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers (JAN), Lafayette (LFT), Little Rock (LIT), Mobile (MOB), and New Orleans (MSY). Waiver allows for changes for new flights through Sept. 16.

JetBlue has a waiver for travel through Sept. 12 through New Orleans (MSY), allowing for new travel through Sept. 14.  

Southwest has a waiver for travel through Sept. 12 through Corpus Christi (CRP), Destin (VPS), Harlingen (HRL), Houston Hobby (HOU), Jackson (JAN),  New Orleans (MSY), Panama City Beach (ECP), and Pensacola) allowing for new travel within 14 days of the original date of travel.   

United has a waiver for travel through Sept. 12 through Baton Rouge (BTR), Gulfport (GPT), Jackson (JAN), Lake Charles (LCH), Lafayette (LFT), Meridian (MEI), Mobile (MOB), New Orleans (MSY), Hattiesburg (PIB), Pensacola (PNS), and Shreveport (SHV. Flyers can change their travel for new flights through Sept. 18.    

Port of New Orleans closes

Port of New Orleans closed ahead of Francine’s arrival, delaying Carnival Valor’s Sept. 12 cruise. Currently, Carnival says that it is most likely sailing Valor into the port on Friday.

Carnival is alerting all guests and travel advisors via texts—guests and advisors can sign up by texting CCL1 to 278473.

“As the safety of our guests and crew is our priority, we will continue to monitor the storm, factor in guidance from the National Hurricane Center, U.S. Coast Guard, and the local port authorities to provide timely updates as more information becomes available,” Carnival said in a statement.

Port of New Orleans said on Thursday morning that the port remains closed for damage assessment.

“Normal operations are CLOSED. Terminal operators will be conducting damage assessments and operations and will provide and update,” it said in an update.