Harvey's Aftermath Complicates Travel

Image: PHOTO: Hurricane Harvey from Earth's orbit. (photo via Flickr/NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)
Image: PHOTO: Hurricane Harvey from Earth's orbit. (photo via Flickr/NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)
Donald Wood
by Donald Wood
Last updated: 2:08 PM ET, Wed August 30, 2017

As a result of Hurricane Harvey making landfall on the Gulf coast, both major international airports in Houston have been closed to air traffic until further notice.

According to the official website of the Houston airports, both George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport have shut down inbound and outbound flights. Other smaller regional airports in Texas and Louisiana have also closed.

There have been 1,500 flight cancellations Wednesday thus far, another 1,300 flights canceled for Thursday and almost 100 flights grounded Friday, according to FlightAware.com. Since Harvey started impacting air travel last Friday, an estimated 7,250 of the 9,400 canceled flights across the country came from the two Houston international airports.

As a result of the cancellations, airlines continue to waive change fees and work with customers. Both American Airlines and Delta Air Lines have expanded their lists of impacted airports and will allow travelers to make up their journeys through September 20.

For travelers looking to fly with Southwest Airlines, the airline is allowing customers to rebook their flights within 14 days of their original date of travel for no additional fee. As for United Airlines, the carrier expanded its list of impacted airports and waived all change fees and any difference in fare for flights departing between August 25 and November 15.

[READMORE]READ MORE: Airlines Exchanging Miles for Harvey Donations[/READMORE]

As the Port of Galveston remains closed, Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas sailed to Miami to allow passengers to disembark. Additionally, the Carnival Freedom, Carnival Valor and Carnival Breeze, have been sent to New Orleans until the Texas port re-opens.

Road travelers are advised to avoid the areas impacted by the storm as flooding remains a major issue throughout Houston and the surrounding region. Officials are asking people to stay off the highways and local roads in order to remain safe from the aftermath of the storm.


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