Orlando International Airport will return to normal operating hours Friday, its CEO said, after planes resumed arriving Thursday evening in the hours following Hurricane Nicole’s march through the region.
The nation’s seventh-busiest airport skirted any major damage as Nicole brought blustery winds and heavy rains to the region. It ceased commercial operations at 4 p.m. Wednesday ahead of the storm and 1,484 flights were canceled over two days, Greater Orlando Aviation Authority CEO Kevin Thibault said.
“Thankfully, the Orlando International, as well as the Orlando Executive Airport, sustained no major damage,” he said. “Our airline partners, as we speak, are now positioning commercial aircraft back here.”
Travelers should contact their airline or rental car provider with questions about specific flights and return policies before arriving at the airport, he said.
Thibault said the airport faced “major” water intrusions throughout the terminals, which are being cleaned up by staff. A canopy outside Terminal A was down as well, but neither issue will interfere with reopening plans, he said.
Stranded when the airport closed, 68 passengers were transported to authorized shelters. They made up more than one-third of the 186 people who rode out the storm at Orange County shelters.
“A number of these people had been stranded at the Orlando International Airport when the airport closed operations [Wednesday] and, quite frankly, they needed a place to stay,” Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said at a separate news conference.
On Thursday evening, terminals were mostly empty with a smattering of stranded travelers who stayed at the airport Hyatt, and staff who rode out the storm at the airport. Several were sprawled on chairs and benches under blankets, as nearby some concession staff prepared to reopen. A handful of people were in line at Chik Fil-A, which was serving meals.
“It’ll be busy tomorrow morning, but it will be a normal operation for us,” Thibault said.
Stephen Hudak of the Sentinel staff contributed.
rygillespie@orlandosentinel.com
